Just days after the October 7 massacre, member of Knesset Sharren Haskel, of the National Unity Party, visited the devastated kibbutzim in southern Israel attacked by Hamas terrorists. The air was thick with the mingling scents of fresh blood and burned homes.

“I was shocked to my core,” Haskel said. From that day forward, she committed herself to sharing with the world what had happened—and how.

Since then, the 40-year-old has traveled extensively, visiting parliaments around the globe to expose the ties between Hamas terrorism and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, known as UNRWA. For nearly a decade, Haskel’s work as head of the UNRWA Knesset Caucus focused on uncovering corruption and terrorist activities connected to the organization. Her efforts laid the groundwork for two landmark Knesset bills, passed at the end of 2024, that effectively banned UNRWA from operating in Israel and potentially in Gaza and the West Bank.

Now, amid a government reshuffle, Haskel, a veterinarian by profession who was born in Toronto and raised in Israel, has been appointed deputy foreign minister. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

What are your goals as deputy foreign minister?

Israel is fighting its second War of Independence. This war is being fought on the battlefield and on the diplomatic and public opinion fronts. I see my role as being of great importance, working alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to push back against the Islamist narrative being spread across social media and mainstream media. This narrative is promoted by those who are enemies of democracy and liberty. Our mission is to confront and correct the lies and blood libels they are spreading that incite hatred and violence against Israel, Jewish communities and everyone who dares to challenge them.

How should Israel advocate for itself around the world?

The most powerful weapon we have is the simple truth. I speak about the common threat faced by democratic nations that uphold Western values from radical Islam and the groups and countries that support these ideologies. I have seen that opinions can change once the facts are presented and evidence is shown.

Regarding UNRWA, we must make our case now at the United Nations. We need to explain why the Knesset voted to pass this new legislation. We must trust that the truth, combined with the support of our allies, will prevail in this new diplomatic challenge.

What motivated you to join politics?

Friends encouraged me to run for office over a decade ago. It became clear that if we, the younger generation, don’t fight for leadership positions, no one will represent us—and no one can represent us better than we can ourselves. This sense of mission has driven me; even 10 years later, it still burns within me.

I urge many young people to join this cause. It’s crucial that more young people in Israel and Jews in the Diaspora take on political and community leadership roles.

You have three young children under the age of four. How do you balance it all?

It’s always a struggle. As a woman, you’re never entirely at peace, constantly feeling like you’re missing out or failing to balance your career and family. I think, as women, we tend to be more efficient with our time because we want to achieve everything.

At the same time, women should be equally represented with men in government, high-level management and leadership roles at every level in Israel and in every country. While we still have a long way to go, I am confident that this will become a reality in the future, and I will do everything in my power to help make it happen. 

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Maayan Hoffman is executive editor of ILTV, an Israeli daily English-language news program. She is also the host of the podcast Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine.