Elias Nakhleh
Encyclopedia
Elias Nakhleh was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset
between 1959 and 1974.
during the Ottoman era
, Nakleh joined the British Army
and served in Lebanon, returning to Israel in 1948.
A member of Rameh's local council, he was first elected to the Knesset
in 1959 for the Progress and Development
party, and was re-elected in 1961
and 1965
. In 1966 the party merged with Cooperation and Brotherhood
to form Cooperation and Development
, but split the following year. In 1968 Nakhleh formed a single-member faction, Jewish-Arab Brotherhood
, which he remained a member of until the 1969 elections
. In the elections he was returned to the Knesset on the Cooperation and Brotherhood list, and was appointed Deputy Speaker. He lost his seat in the 1973 elections
, in which the party failed to cross the electoral threshold.
In 1990 he received the Presidential Medal for his tireless efforts at resolving conflicts and promoting tolerance. He died the same year.
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...
between 1959 and 1974.
Biography
Born in RamehRameh
Rameh is a local council in the North District of Israel. It is entirely populated by Arabs, of whom around 51% are Christian, 29% Druze, and a further 20% Muslim...
during the Ottoman era
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Nakleh joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and served in Lebanon, returning to Israel in 1948.
A member of Rameh's local council, he was first elected to the Knesset
Israeli legislative election, 1959
Elections for the fourth Knesset were held in Israel on 3 November 1959. Voter turnout was 81.5%.-Results:¹ The General Zionists and the Progressive Party merged to form the Liberal Party....
in 1959 for the Progress and Development
Progress and Development
Progress and Development was a political party in Israel.-History:Progress and Development was an Israeli Arab organisation formed to fight the 1959 elections...
party, and was re-elected in 1961
Israeli legislative election, 1961
Elections for the fifth Knesset were held in Israel on 15 August 1961. Voter turnout was 81.6%.-Results:¹ Eight MKs broke away from Mapai to establish Rafi² Herut and the Liberal Party merged to form Gahal...
and 1965
Israeli legislative election, 1965
Elections for the sixth Knesset were held in Israel on 1 November 1965. Voter turnout was 85.9%.-Background:Prior to the elections, two major alliances were formed; Mapai and Ahdut HaAvoda united to form the Alignment, whilst Herut and the Liberal Party had formed the Gahal alliance towards the end...
. In 1966 the party merged with Cooperation and Brotherhood
Cooperation and Brotherhood
Cooperation and Brotherhood was a political party in Israel.-History:Cooperation and Brotherhood was an Israeli Arab organisation formed to participate in the 1959 elections...
to form Cooperation and Development
Cooperation and Development
Cooperation and Development was a short-lived political party in Israel.-History:Cooperation and Development was established on 5 July 1966 during the sixth Knesset, when two of the three Israeli Arab parties, Cooperation and Brotherhood and Progress and Development, merged...
, but split the following year. In 1968 Nakhleh formed a single-member faction, Jewish-Arab Brotherhood
Jewish-Arab Brotherhood
Jewish-Arab Brotherhood was a short-lived, one-man political party in Israel.-Background:The party was formed on 22 October 1968 during the sixth Knesset, when Elias Nakhleh broke away from Progress and Development....
, which he remained a member of until the 1969 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1969
Elections for the seventh Knesset were held in Israel on 28 October 1969. Voter turnout was 81.7%.-Results:¹ Meir Avizohar defected from the National List to the Alignment² Avner Shaki left the National Religious Party and remained a single MK...
. In the elections he was returned to the Knesset on the Cooperation and Brotherhood list, and was appointed Deputy Speaker. He lost his seat in the 1973 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1973
The Elections for the eighth Knesset were held on 31 December 1973. Voter turnout was 78.6%.-Results:1 Aryeh Eliav left the Alignment and merged with Ratz to form Ya'ad - Civil Rights Movement...
, in which the party failed to cross the electoral threshold.
In 1990 he received the Presidential Medal for his tireless efforts at resolving conflicts and promoting tolerance. He died the same year.