List of Arab members of the Knesset
There have been Israeli Arab members of the Knesset ever since the first Knesset elections in 1949. The following is a list of the 77 past and present members. Some Israeli Druze dispute the label "Arab" and consider Druze to be a separate ethnic group. However, as they speak Arabic as their first language they are still included in this list.
Current members (16)
Knesset member |
Party(s) |
Knesset(s) |
Comments |
Hamad Amar |
|
Yisrael Beiteinu |
18, 19, 20 |
Druze |
Taleb Abu Arar |
![](../I/m/Talab_Abu_Arar.jpg) |
United Arab List Joint List |
19, 20 |
Bedouin |
Zouheir Bahloul |
|
Zionist Union |
20 |
|
Issawi Frej |
![](../I/m/Issawi_Frej.jpg) |
Meretz |
19, 20 |
|
Basel Ghattas |
![](../I/m/Basel_Ghattas.jpg) |
Balad Joint List |
19, 20 |
Christian |
Masud Ghnaim |
![](../I/m/Mas'oud_Ghnaim.jpg) |
United Arab List Joint List |
18, 19, 20 |
Sunni Muslim |
Yousef Jabareen |
|
Joint List |
20 |
|
Ayoob Kara |
![](../I/m/Ayoub_Kara.JPG) |
Likud |
15, 16, 18, 20 |
Druze, Former Deputy Knesset speaker |
Abdullah Abu Ma'aruf |
|
Joint List |
20 |
Druze |
Ayman Odeh |
![](../I/m/Ayman_Odeh_(8).jpg) |
Joint List |
20 |
|
Osama Saadi |
|
Joint List |
20 |
|
Ahmad Tibi |
![](../I/m/Ahmad_Tibi.jpg) |
Balad Ta'al United Arab List Joint List |
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 |
|
Aida Touma-Suleiman |
|
Joint List |
20 |
|
Abd al-Hakim Hajj Yahya |
|
Joint List |
20 |
|
Jamal Zahalka |
![](../I/m/Jamal_Zhalka2009.JPG) |
Balad Joint List |
16, 17, 18, 19, 20 |
|
Haneen Zoabi |
![](../I/m/Haneen_Zoubi_cropped.JPG) |
Balad Joint List |
18, 19, 20 |
Sunni Muslim.[1] First Arab woman elected to the Knesset on an Arab party's list. |
Past members (61)
Knesset member |
Party(s) |
Knesset(s) |
Comments |
Ahmed A-Dahar |
|
Progress and Development |
4, 5 |
|
Afu Agbaria |
![](../I/m/Afu_Agbaria.jpg) |
Hadash |
18, 19 |
|
Mahmud A-Nashaf |
|
Agriculture and Development |
4 |
|
Hamad Abu Rabia |
|
Arab List for Bedouins and Villagers Alignment United Arab List |
8, 9 |
|
Labib Hussein Abu Rokan |
|
Cooperation and Brotherhood |
4 |
|
Assad Assad |
|
Likud |
13 |
|
Shafik Assad |
|
Dash Democratic Movement Ahva Telem |
9 |
|
Zeidan Atashi |
|
Shinui |
9, 11 |
|
Mohammad Barakeh |
![](../I/m/Mohammad_Barakeh.jpg) |
Hadash |
15, 16, 17, 18, 19 |
Former Deputy Knesset speaker |
Rostam Bastuni |
![](../I/m/Rostam_Bastuni.jpg) |
Mapam |
2 |
|
Azmi Bishara |
![](../I/m/Azmi_Bishara-Cropped.jpg) |
Balad |
14, 15, 16, 17 |
|
Ahmed Dabbah |
![](../I/m/Dabah.jpg) |
Kadima |
18 | |
|
Abdulwahab Darawshe |
|
Alignment Arab Democratic Party |
11, 12, 13, 14 |
|
Abdulmalik Dehamshe |
|
United Arab List |
14, 15, 16 |
Deputy Knesset speaker |
Yussef Diab |
|
Cooperation and Brotherhood |
4 |
|
Seif el-Din el-Zoubi |
![](../I/m/Seif_el-Din_el-Zubi.jpg) |
Democratic List of Nazareth Democratic List for Israeli Arabs Progress and Development Cooperation and Development Alignment United Arab List |
1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, |
|
Hussein Faris |
|
Mapam |
12 |
Emile Habibi |
![](../I/m/Emile_Habibi.jpg) |
Maki Rakah |
2, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
|
Haneh Hadad |
|
Labor Party |
13 |
|
Rafik Haj Yahia |
|
One Nation Labor Party |
14 |
Walid Haj Yahia |
|
Left Camp of Israel Meretz |
9, 13, 14 |
|
Faras Hamdan |
|
Agriculture and Development |
2, 3 |
|
Yussuf Hamis |
|
Mapam |
3, 4, 5 |
|
Salah-Hassan Hanifes |
|
Progress and Work |
2, 3 |
|
Akram Hasson |
|
Kadima |
18 |
Nadia Hilou |
|
Labor Party |
17 |
|
Halil-Salim Jabara |
|
Ahdut HaAvoda |
5 |
|
Hussniya Jabara |
|
Meretz |
15 |
First female Arab MK |
Amin-Salim Jarjora |
|
Democratic List of Nazareth |
1 |
|
Muhamad Kanan |
|
United Arab List Arab National Party |
15 |
|
Masaad Kassis |
|
Democratic List for Israeli Arabs |
2, 3 |
|
Hamad Khalaily |
|
Alignment |
10 |
|
Tawfik Khatib |
|
United Arab List Arab National Party |
14, 15, |
|
Raleb Majadele |
![](../I/m/Raleb_Majadele._April_2008.jpg) |
Labour |
16, 17, 18, 19 |
First Muslim Arab Minister. Minister without Portfolio (2007), Minister of Science, Culture and Sport (2007-2009) |
Hashem Mahameed |
|
Hadash Balad United Arab List National Unity – National Progressive Alliance |
12, 13, 14, 15 |
|
Issam Makhoul |
![](../I/m/Issam_Makhoul_at_demonstration.jpg) |
Hadash |
15, 16 |
|
Nawaf Massalha |
|
Alignment Labor Party One Israel |
12, 13, 14, 15 |
Deputy Minister, Deputy Knesset speaker |
Mohammed Miari |
|
Progressive List for Peace |
11, 12 |
|
Jabr Moade |
|
Democratic List for Israeli Arabs Cooperation and Brotherhood Cooperation and Development Druze Party Progress and Development Alignment United Arab List |
2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Deputy Minister |
Hanna Mwais |
|
Hadash |
9 |
|
Mohamed Naffa |
|
Hadash |
12 |
|
Said Nafa |
|
Balad |
17, 18 |
Druze |
Elias Nakhleh |
|
Progress and Development Cooperation and Development Jewish-Arab Brotherhood Cooperation and Brotherhood |
4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
Amal Nasser el-Din |
|
Likud |
8, 9, 10, 11 |
|
Diyab Obeid |
|
Cooperation and Brotherhood |
5, 6, 7 |
|
Ahmad Sa'd |
|
Hadash |
14 |
|
Taleb el-Sana |
![](../I/m/Taleb_al_Sana2009.JPG) |
Arab Democratic Party United Arab List |
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
Bedouin |
Saleh Saleem |
|
Hadash |
13, 14 |
|
Ibrahim Sarsur |
![](../I/m/Ibrahim_Sarsur.jpg) |
United Arab List |
17, 18, 19 |
|
Shachiv Shnaan |
|
Labour Independence |
17, 18 |
Druze |
Saleh Suleiman |
|
Progress and Work |
3 |
|
Hana Sweid |
![](../I/m/Hisham_Zreiq_Honored_by_Ramiz_Jaraisy.jpg) |
Hadash |
17, 18, 19 |
Christian |
Wasil Taha |
|
Balad |
16, 17 |
|
Salah Tarif |
|
Alignment Labor Party One Israel |
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 |
First Arab Minister (Minister without Portfolio), also Deputy Knesset speaker |
Tawfik Toubi |
|
Maki Rakah Hadash |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Second longest serving Knesset member (41 years, 5 months and 9 days) after Shimon Peres |
Majalli Wahabi |
![](../I/m/Majalli_Wahabi.jpg) |
Likud Kadima Hatnuah |
16, 17, 18 |
Druze, Former Deputy Knesset speaker, briefly acting President |
Muhammed Wattad |
|
Alignment Mapam Hadash |
10, 11 |
|
Abbas Zakour |
|
United Arab List |
17 |
|
Tawfiq Ziad |
![](../I/m/Zayyad.jpg) |
Rakah Hadash |
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
|
Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi |
|
Mapam Alignment |
6, 7, 8 |
First Arab Deputy Minister |
See also
References
- ↑ Jason Koutsoukis (16 May 2009). "Voice of equality". The Age.
My parents are Muslims. They pray, they fast, they have been to Mecca, but they raised their children to think and feel as liberal, open-minded people.
External links