Abbas Zakour
Encyclopedia
Abbas Zakour is an Israeli Arab politician and a former member of the Knesset
for the United Arab List
.
, Zakour gained a BA in Islamic Sciences at the Al-Quds University
in 1990. He later worked as director of the Almotak newspaper.
For the 2006 Knesset elections he was placed fourth on the United Arab List
list, and became a Knesset member when the party won four seats. In December 2008 he left the UAL and established a new party, the Arab Centre Party, to run in the 2009 Knesset elections
. Zakour stated that the party would join "any leftist government that supports peace", and hopes to win four seats. Labor Party MK Raleb Majadele
was asked to head the party, but turned the offer down. It was planned that Zakour would head the list, whilst former United Arab List
and Arab National Party
MK Muhamad Kanan
would take second spot. However, Zakour later joined Balad, winning fourth place on its list, and the new party did not run. Balad won three seats in the election, meaning Zakour lost his place in the Knesset.
In 2006, Zakour was stabbed and lightly wounded by a gang of Russian immigrants shouting anti-Arab chants. The attack was part of a "stabbing rampage" and was described as a "hate crime
".
Zakour lives in Acre, and is married with six children.
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
for the United Arab List
United Arab List
The United Arab List , commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Ra'am , is a political party representing and supported by Israeli Arabs...
.
Biography
Born in AcreAcre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
, Zakour gained a BA in Islamic Sciences at the Al-Quds University
Al-Quds University
Al-Quds University is a Palestinian university with campuses in Jerusalem, Abu Dis, and al-Bireh. It was founded in 1984, but its official constitution was written in 1993 when Mohammed Nusseibeh, its first Chancellor and Chancellor of the College of Science and Technology, announced its...
in 1990. He later worked as director of the Almotak newspaper.
For the 2006 Knesset elections he was placed fourth on the United Arab List
United Arab List
The United Arab List , commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Ra'am , is a political party representing and supported by Israeli Arabs...
list, and became a Knesset member when the party won four seats. In December 2008 he left the UAL and established a new party, the Arab Centre Party, to run in the 2009 Knesset elections
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
. Zakour stated that the party would join "any leftist government that supports peace", and hopes to win four seats. Labor Party MK Raleb Majadele
Raleb Majadele
Ghaleb Majadele is an Israeli Arab politician. A member of the Knesset for the Labor Party, he became the country's first Muslim minister when appointed Minister without Portfolio on 28 January 2007.-Biography:...
was asked to head the party, but turned the offer down. It was planned that Zakour would head the list, whilst former United Arab List
United Arab List
The United Arab List , commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Ra'am , is a political party representing and supported by Israeli Arabs...
and Arab National Party
Arab National Party
The Arab National Party , alternatively rendered as the National Arab Party, is a minor Israeli Arab political party in Israel led by Muhamad Kanan.-Background:...
MK Muhamad Kanan
Muhamad Kanan
Muhamad Kanan is an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the United Arab List and the Arab National Party between 1999 and 2003.-Biography:...
would take second spot. However, Zakour later joined Balad, winning fourth place on its list, and the new party did not run. Balad won three seats in the election, meaning Zakour lost his place in the Knesset.
In 2006, Zakour was stabbed and lightly wounded by a gang of Russian immigrants shouting anti-Arab chants. The attack was part of a "stabbing rampage" and was described as a "hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
".
Zakour lives in Acre, and is married with six children.