Labor Party Appoints Israel's First Muslim Cabinet Minister
11:04 Jan 19, '07 / 29 Tevet 5767
by Ezra HaLevi
Israel is poised to have its first Muslim Cabinet Minister. Raleb Majadle’s nomination was narrowly approved by the Labor Party Thursday to replace a Labor Minister who quit.
By a vote of 253 to 225 in the Labor Party Central Committee, Arab Knesset Member Raleb Majadle has defeated Druze community representative Shakib Shanan for the nomination to become minister of science, culture and sports. The vote confirms the nomination announced last week by party chairman Amir Peretz.
Peretz told the party, after it approved his decision, that, "This is a holiday for members of the Labor Party and for the citizens of the State of Israel. I feel this move will advance awareness and coexistence with the State's Arab citizens. This move will create momentum for peace in the Middle East and demonstrates the maturity of the Labor Central Committee's members," he said.
The Defense Minister, who is charged with appointing a new IDF Chief of Staff, said that the appointment of an Arab Muslim is meant to be a clear response to the appointment of Yisrael Beiteinu’s Avigdor Lieberman as Minister of Strategic Threats. Ophor Pines-Paz quit his position as minister of culture, technology, and sports in protest of the government’s inclusion of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party in the coalition, saying its proposals are racist.
Opponents within the Labor Party say Peretz is trying to compete with Pines-Paz's new popularity as a pure-left ideologue and a bid to win the decisive Arab vote within the party on the eve of primaries for the party chairmanship. In addition, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has been using his influence in the Arab sector to campaign for former prime minister Ehud Barak. Following criticism by Lieberman and Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction leader Esterina Tartman that Peretz picked Majadle only because he is an Arab, Peretz has not hesitated to refer to what he calls "Lieberman's racism."
Peretz was heckled during the Labor meeting by Druze members of the party. “I love the Druze,” Peretz replied. “There is never enough to satisfy all the demands, but today we have a decisive response to Lieberman."
Opponents within the Labor Party say Peretz is trying to compete with Pines-Paz’s new popularity as a pure-left ideologue and a bid to win the decisive Arab vote within the party on the eve of primaries.
On Friday, Interior Minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima), who plays the similar role of unofficial spokesman to the Prime Minister that Olmert served under Ariel Sharon, said that MK Majadle’s appointment may not be approved by the government this week.
Bar-On told Israel Radio that Yisrael Beiteinu is also eligible for another ministerial position according to coalition agreements, which would leave Majadle with the benefits and title of minister, but without a ministry.
Majadle responded that he had no problem with that. "I am confident that the prime minister will see the appointment of the first Arab minister in the State of Israel - a minister with a portfolio, but with authority - as being to the benefit of the Israeli government and the entire Israeli society."
Labor Party Appoints Israel's First Muslim Cabinet Minister
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