Haneen Zoabi
Encyclopedia
Haneen Zoabi, also spelled Hanin Zoubi, , is a member of the Knesset
representing the Balad party. She is a Palestinian Arab
, who is also an Arab citizen of Israel. Elected in 2009
, she is the first woman to be elected to the Knesset on an Arab party's list.
, Zoabi studied philosophy and psychology at the University of Haifa
, gaining a Bachelors of Arts, before receiving a Masters of Arts in communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
. She was the first Arab citizen of Israel to graduate from a media studies course there, and established the first media classes in Arab schools. She also worked as a math teacher, and later served as a schools inspector for the Ministry of Education.
Zoabi joined Balad in 2001. In 2003, she co-founded the NGO I'lam – Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel . Zoabi was its general director until she resigned shortly before the 2009 election to focus on her political career.
Prior to the 2009 elections
she won third place on the Balad list, and entered the Knesset after the party won three seats. She became the first female Arab MK to represent an Arab party (though preceded by Hussniya Jabara
and Nadia Hilou
on other lists). Zoabi ran for Knesset as a Balad candidate in 2006, but was too low on the party's electoral list
to win a seat.
She is a relative of Seif el-Din el-Zoubi, a former mayor of Nazareth and member of the Knesset between 1949 and 1959, and again from 1965 until 1979, and Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi
, a Deputy Health Minister and the first Arab member of an Israeli government.
In 2008, she spoke at Wadham College. In 2009, she met with Code Pink
, and Coalition of Women for Peace.
, which she describes as "inherently racist." She has argued that this is the only way to combat Avigdor Lieberman's demand that Israeli citizens take loyalty oaths: "Balad's concept, which rejects the 'Jewish state' idea, is the only idea that can remove [Avigdor] Lieberman from the circle of political and moral legitimacy...When you agree with the 'Jewish state' idea, you necessarily agree with the idea of loyalty to this state. Rejecting the 'Jewish state' concept will block the road for anyone who demands our loyalty to such a state."
Zoabi sees no difference between Lieberman and more mainstream Israeli politicians, saying that Lieberman, Tzipi Livni
, and Benjamin Netanyahu
are "all a bunch of fascists pure and simple."
At the 18th Knesset swearing-in ceremony on February 24, 2009, she left the Knesset plenum before the singing of Hatikva, Israel's national anthem. "'Hatikva' doesn't represent me", she later said. "I preferred to leave the room, because I don't appreciate hypocrisy." She has voiced support for Iran
ian acquisition of nuclear weapons, saying “I need something to balance its [Israel’s] power.”
Zoabi rejects any form of national service
for Israel's Arab citizens. In an interview with Jonathan Cook
, Zoubi said: "It is frustrating and exhausting having always to be on the defensive about why I identify as a Palestinian, why I am not a Zionist, why the Jewish state is not democratic and cannot represent me, why I am entitled to citizenship. It is a Sisyphean labor."
, a ship where violence broke out when IDF commandos boarded the ship with intention of redirecting it to the port of Ashekelon, which left 9 activists dead and as many as 60 activists and 10 IDF soldiers seriously injured.
Zoubi addressed the Knesset shortly after. She described the Israeli raid as a "pirate military operation". During her speech, she was repeatedly interrupted by the other Israeli lawmakers, who furiously shouted "Go to Gaza, traitor"! During her address she said: "Israel spoke of a provocation, but there was no provocation. Why does the government of Israel oppose an investigation?" Later in a press conference she elaborated: "It was clear from the size of the force that boarded the ship that the purpose was not only to stop this sail[ing], but to cause the largest possible number of fatalities in order to stop such initiatives in the future."
Two security guards were assigned for her protection, after she received death threats. One man who offered a reward on Facebook of free groceries for killing Zoubi was arrested.
Following the raid, Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai
requested that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein
revoke Zoubi's parliamentary immunity and authorize Yishai to strip Zoubi of her Israeli citizenship. Yishai accused Zoubi of engaging in a "premeditated act of treason", and claimed she used her immunity to protect her from prosecution, even though she assisted activists and was "undoubtedly aware" of their preparations to attack IDF soldiers. Likud
MK Yariv Levin
also accused Zoubi of betraying the State of Israel, and called for her prosecution.
A Knesset committee voted 7–1 to recommend her parliamentary immunity be revoked, which attracted concern from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and was ultimately blocked by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin
, who ignored the recommendation and declined to submit it to a vote of the full Knesset.
When the full Knesset met on 13 July 2010, it decided, in a 34–16 vote, to strip her of three parliamentary privileges as a penalty for her participation in the flotilla: the right to have a diplomatic passport, entitlement to financial assistance should she require legal help, and the right to visit countries with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations. She was also stripped of the right to participate in Knesset discussions and to vote in parliamentary committees.
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...
representing the Balad party. She is a Palestinian Arab
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
, who is also an Arab citizen of Israel. Elected in 2009
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...
, she is the first woman to be elected to the Knesset on an Arab party's list.
Life and work
Born in NazarethNazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
, Zoabi studied philosophy and psychology at the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, gaining a Bachelors of Arts, before receiving a Masters of Arts in communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. She was the first Arab citizen of Israel to graduate from a media studies course there, and established the first media classes in Arab schools. She also worked as a math teacher, and later served as a schools inspector for the Ministry of Education.
Zoabi joined Balad in 2001. In 2003, she co-founded the NGO I'lam – Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel . Zoabi was its general director until she resigned shortly before the 2009 election to focus on her political career.
Prior to the 2009 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...
she won third place on the Balad list, and entered the Knesset after the party won three seats. She became the first female Arab MK to represent an Arab party (though preceded by Hussniya Jabara
Hussniya Jabara
Hussniya Jabara is a former Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Meretz between 1999 and 2003. She was the first Israeli Arab woman to become a Knesset member.-Biography:Jabara was born to a Muslim farming family in Tayibe...
and Nadia Hilou
Nadia Hilou
Nadia Hilou is an Arab-Israeli politician, who served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party between 2006 and 2009. She was the second female Israeli Arab MK after Hussniya Jabara, and also the first female Christian MK.-Biography:...
on other lists). Zoabi ran for Knesset as a Balad candidate in 2006, but was too low on the party's electoral list
Electoral list
An electoral list is a grouping of candidates for election to a post, usually in proportional election systems. An electoral list can be registered by a political party or can constitute a group of independent candidates...
to win a seat.
She is a relative of Seif el-Din el-Zoubi, a former mayor of Nazareth and member of the Knesset between 1949 and 1959, and again from 1965 until 1979, and Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi
Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi
Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Mapam and the Alignment from 1965 until his death in 1974...
, a Deputy Health Minister and the first Arab member of an Israeli government.
In 2008, she spoke at Wadham College. In 2009, she met with Code Pink
Code Pink
Code Pink: Women for Peace is an anti-war group that is mainly composed of women. It has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and many more chapters in the U.S. as well as several in other countries...
, and Coalition of Women for Peace.
Political positions
Zoabi (like Balad in general) rejects the idea of Israel as a Jewish stateJewish state
A homeland for the Jewish people was an idea that rose to the fore in the 19th century in the wake of growing anti-Semitism and Jewish assimilation. Jewish emancipation in Europe paved the way for two ideological solutions to the Jewish Question: cultural assimilation, as envisaged by Moses...
, which she describes as "inherently racist." She has argued that this is the only way to combat Avigdor Lieberman's demand that Israeli citizens take loyalty oaths: "Balad's concept, which rejects the 'Jewish state' idea, is the only idea that can remove [Avigdor] Lieberman from the circle of political and moral legitimacy...When you agree with the 'Jewish state' idea, you necessarily agree with the idea of loyalty to this state. Rejecting the 'Jewish state' concept will block the road for anyone who demands our loyalty to such a state."
Zoabi sees no difference between Lieberman and more mainstream Israeli politicians, saying that Lieberman, Tzipi Livni
Tzipi Livni
Tzipporah Malkah "Tzipi" Livni is an Israeli lawyer and politician. She is the current Israeli Opposition Leader and leader of Kadima, the largest party in the Knesset. Raised an ardent nationalist, Livni has become one of her nation's leading voices for the two-state solution. In Israel she has...
, and Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
are "all a bunch of fascists pure and simple."
At the 18th Knesset swearing-in ceremony on February 24, 2009, she left the Knesset plenum before the singing of Hatikva, Israel's national anthem. "'Hatikva' doesn't represent me", she later said. "I preferred to leave the room, because I don't appreciate hypocrisy." She has voiced support for Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian acquisition of nuclear weapons, saying “I need something to balance its [Israel’s] power.”
Zoabi rejects any form of national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
for Israel's Arab citizens. In an interview with Jonathan Cook
Jonathan Cook
Jonathan Cook is a British writer and a freelance journalist based in Nazareth, Israel, who writes about the Middle East, and more specifically, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.-Background:...
, Zoubi said: "It is frustrating and exhausting having always to be on the defensive about why I identify as a Palestinian, why I am not a Zionist, why the Jewish state is not democratic and cannot represent me, why I am entitled to citizenship. It is a Sisyphean labor."
Gaza flotilla raid
On 31 May 2010 Zoubi participated in the Gaza Flotilla. She spoke to Israeli media, from aboard ship. She was on board the MV Mavi MarmaraMV Mavi Marmara
MV is a Comoros-flagged passenger ship, which was formerly owned and operated by İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. on the line Sarayburnu, Istanbul-Marmara Island-Avşa Island in the Sea of Marmara. Built at the Golden Gate Shipyard by Turkish Shipbuilding Co...
, a ship where violence broke out when IDF commandos boarded the ship with intention of redirecting it to the port of Ashekelon, which left 9 activists dead and as many as 60 activists and 10 IDF soldiers seriously injured.
Zoubi addressed the Knesset shortly after. She described the Israeli raid as a "pirate military operation". During her speech, she was repeatedly interrupted by the other Israeli lawmakers, who furiously shouted "Go to Gaza, traitor"! During her address she said: "Israel spoke of a provocation, but there was no provocation. Why does the government of Israel oppose an investigation?" Later in a press conference she elaborated: "It was clear from the size of the force that boarded the ship that the purpose was not only to stop this sail[ing], but to cause the largest possible number of fatalities in order to stop such initiatives in the future."
Two security guards were assigned for her protection, after she received death threats. One man who offered a reward on Facebook of free groceries for killing Zoubi was arrested.
Following the raid, Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai
Eli Yishai
Eliyahu "Eli" Yishai is an Israeli politician and head of the Shas party. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Shas, and as both one of four Deputy Prime Ministers and Minister of Internal Affairs.- Political life :...
requested that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein
Yehuda Weinstein
Yehuda Weinstein is an Israeli lawyer and the Attorney General of Israel, having replaced the previous attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, on 1 February 2010.-Biography:...
revoke Zoubi's parliamentary immunity and authorize Yishai to strip Zoubi of her Israeli citizenship. Yishai accused Zoubi of engaging in a "premeditated act of treason", and claimed she used her immunity to protect her from prosecution, even though she assisted activists and was "undoubtedly aware" of their preparations to attack IDF soldiers. Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
MK Yariv Levin
Yariv Levin
Yariv Gideon Levin is Chairman of the Knesset House Committee and Member of Knesset representing the Likud Party. He is a lawyer by profession.-Biography:...
also accused Zoubi of betraying the State of Israel, and called for her prosecution.
A Knesset committee voted 7–1 to recommend her parliamentary immunity be revoked, which attracted concern from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and was ultimately blocked by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin
Reuven Rivlin
Reuven "Rubi" Rivlin is an Israeli lawyer, politician, currently serving as a speaker of the Knesset. He belongs to conservative Likud. A former Speaker of the Knesset, in 2007 he ran in the election for President as the Likud candidate...
, who ignored the recommendation and declined to submit it to a vote of the full Knesset.
When the full Knesset met on 13 July 2010, it decided, in a 34–16 vote, to strip her of three parliamentary privileges as a penalty for her participation in the flotilla: the right to have a diplomatic passport, entitlement to financial assistance should she require legal help, and the right to visit countries with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations. She was also stripped of the right to participate in Knesset discussions and to vote in parliamentary committees.
External links
- "An Interview with Haneen Zoubi, the only female Arab in the Knesset", alternatives international journal, April 2009
- "A One or Two State Solution? – Haneen Zoubi", SJ around the Bay
- "Activist's Account Of Raid Differs From Israeli Version", NPR, Peter Kenyon, June 1, 2010
- "Haneen Zoubi – Attack in the Knesset and insults", YouTube
- Zoubi Receives Death Threats After Surviving Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla – video report by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...