Majalli Wahabi

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Majalli Wahabi (Also spelled Whbee; Arabic: مجلي وهبه) is a Druze Arab citizen of Israel and a member of Israel's Knesset (parliament).

Mr. Wahabi was born on February 12, 1954 in the Druze village of Beit Jan. He earned a B.A. in the History of Islam from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an M.A. in the History of the New Middle East from Haifa University.

He served in the Israel Defense Forces. Initially assigned as an instructor at the intelligence school, he joined a Druze infantry battalion and became an officer. He served in the Lebanon war, and subsequently as a deputy brigade commander in the Golan Heights Division and as a senior Northern Command officer. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Mr. Wahabi met then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon in 1981. Starting in 1996, Mr. Wahabi served as Ariel Sharon's personal ambassador to Israel's Arab neighbors (Egypt, Jordan).

Mr. Wahabi's government roles include:

Since June 20, 2005: Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport
March 30, 2005 - June 20, 2005: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

His public activities include:

Director General, the Ministry for Regional Cooperation (1999-2002)
Senior Political Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-1999)
Aide to the Minister of Infrastructure (1996-1999 - the Minister of Infrastructure in question was Ariel Sharon

Wahabi was elected to the 16th Knesset in 2003 on the Likud party ticket. After Likud split, Wahabi was a founding member of the Kadima party. He was elected to the 17th Knesset in 2006 on the Kadima ticket.

Wahabi is married with four children. Wahabi's son, Tomer is the first Druze member of Israel Army Radio.