| Raleb Majadele | |
|---|---|
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| Date of birth | 5 April 1953 |
| Place of birth | Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Israel |
| Knessets | 16th, 17th |
| Party | Labor Party |
| Ministerial posts (current in bold) |
Minister of Science, Culture & Sport Minister without Portfolio |
Raleb Majadele (Arabic: غالب مجادلة, Hebrew: ראלב מג'אדלה, also spelt Ghaleb Majadele, born 5 April 1953) is an Arab Israeli politician and minister. When appointed Minister without Portfolio on 28 January 2007, he became the first Muslim Arab member of the Israeli cabinet.
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Biography
As a teenager, Majadle was a member of HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed, an Israeli youth movement.[1]
He first entered the Knesset on 28 June 2004 as a replacement for Avraham Burg. He was re-elected in 2006 elections.
On 10 January 2007, Labor chairman Amir Peretz announced that Majadle would be appointed Minister of Science, Culture and Sport.[2] Finally, on 28 January 2007 the Cabinet voted to appoint him as Minister without Portfolio.[3] His appointment was confirmed by a vote in which all ministers except the chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, Avigdor Lieberman, voted in favour.[3] In March 2007 Majadle received the Science, Culture and Sport portfolio.
Although welcomed by many, Majadle's appointment was controversial among several groups of politicians. Mohammed Barakeh of the primarily Arab Hadash party attacked it as a "dirty trick" that would not advance Arabs,[2] while Avigdor Lieberman and Esterina Tartman of Yisrael Beiteinu party attacked it as damaging to Zionism.[4] The latter criticism was itself extremely controversial, with lawmakers from across the political spectrum branding Lieberman's and Tartman's remarks racist; a number of Labor lawmakers demanded that Yisrael Beytenu be expelled from the governing coalition (which then included Labor and Yisrael Beiteinu as well as Kadima, Shas, and Gil) as a condition of Labor continuing to participate in the government.[4]
Placed 15th on the party's list, he lost his seat in the 2009 elections when Labor was reduced to 13 seats.
Quotes
- "I fail to understand how an enlightened, sane Jew allows himself to ask a Muslim person with a different language and culture, to sing an anthem that was written for Jews only," in reference to Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem [5]. Majadele went on to point out that, although he does not participate in singing Hatikvah, he does express respect for the song by standing up when it is sung.
- "Israel is a Jewish state and it does not require external affirmation to prove its Jewishness. Any such request could only weaken the state."[6]
- "The roots of the Israeli Arab citizens of Israel were planted before the state was established. They are residents of this country with rights; their residency and citizenship are not open for negotiation.", in response to comments made by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni indicating that a future Palestinian state should provide a national solution for Israeli Arabs.[7]
References
- ^ Overall, the street is happy Haaretz
- ^ a b Yoav Stern (10 January 2007). "Labor MK Ghaleb Majadle to be appointed first Arab minister". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/812014.html.
- ^ a b "First Arab joins Israeli cabinet". BBC. 28 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6307673.stm.
- ^ a b Mazal Mualem; Gideon Alon and Yoav Stern (12 January 2007). "Lieberman calls on Peretz to quit over appointment of first Arab minister". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/812447.html.
- ^ Majadele refuses to sing national anthem Ynetnews, 17 March 2007
- ^ "Erekat: Why is PM 'poking us in the eye' over Jewish Israel" The Jerusalem Post, 16 November 2007
- ^ FM Livni: Palestinian state should satisfy Israeli Arab national desires israelinsider, 18 November, 2007
External links
- Raleb Majadele Knesset website
- "Arab minister good for Israel" Rabbi Naftali Rothenberg, Ynetnews 30 January 2007
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