Raleb Majadele

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Raleb Majadele
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Date of birth April 5, 1953 (1953-04-05) (age 55)
Knesset(s) 16th, 17th (current)
Party Labor
Gov't roles
(current in bold)		 Minister of Science, Culture & Sport
Minister without Portfolio

Raleb Majadele (Arabic: غالب مجادلة‎, Hebrew: ראלב מג'אדלה‎, also Ghaleb Majadele) is an Israeli Arab politician born on April 5, 1953 in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, east of Hadera [1]. As a teenager, he was a member of Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed, an Israeli youth movement. [2]

Majadele has been a Member of the Knesset for the Labor Party since mid-2004. He is the first Muslim Arab to become a Minister in the Israeli cabinet.[3]

On January 10, 2007, Labor chairman Amir Peretz announced that Majadele would be appointed Minister of Science, Culture and Sport.[4] Finally, on January 28, 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 of 2007 Majadle received the Science, Culture and Sport portfolio.

Although welcomed by many, Majadele'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,[4] while Avigdor Lieberman and Esterina Tartman of Yisrael Beiteinu party attacked it as damaging to Zionism.[5] 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 includes Labor and Yisrael Beytenu as well as Kadima, Shas, and Gil) as a condition of Labor continuing to participate in the government.[5]

[edit] 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 [6]. 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.
  • "I'll inform you, Knesset Member Eldad, that a Minister I may be for a year, or two years, or ten years, but a Muslim I was born and a Muslim I will die, and I recommend that when you ask me questions of a religious nature you remember that between my religion and my considerations as a Minister, my loyalty to my religion and my [Arab] nationality will supersede my considerations as a Minister."[7]
  • "Israel is a Jewish state and it does not require external affirmation to prove its Jewishness. Any such request could only weaken the state."[8]
  • "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.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Knesset Member, Raleb Majadele. knesset.gov.il. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
  2. ^ Overall, the street is happy - Haaretz - Israel News
  3. ^ a b c "First Arab joins Israeli cabinet", BBC, January 28, 2007. 
  4. ^ a b Yoav Stern. "Labor MK Raleb Majadele to be appointed first Arab minister", Haaretz, January 10, 2007. 
  5. ^ a b Mazal Mualem; Gideon Alon and Yoav Stern. "Lieberman calls on Peretz to quit over appointment of first Arab minister", Haaretz, January 12, 2007. 
  6. ^ Majadele refuses to sing national anthem Ynetnews, 17 March 2007
  7. ^ "A Muslim First and a Minister Second" Maariv, 14 November 2007
  8. ^ "Erekat: Why is PM 'poking us in the eye' over Jewish Israel" The Jerusalem Post, 16 November 2007
  9. ^ FM Livni: Palestinian state should satisfy Israeli Arab national desires israelinsider, 18 November, 2007

[edit] External links

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Persondata
NAME Majadele, Raleb
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Majadele, Galeb; ראלב מג'אדלה ;غالب مجادلة
SHORT DESCRIPTION Israeli politician
DATE OF BIRTH April 5, 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Israel
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH