Wasil Taha ( ar, واصل طه, he, וואסל טאהה, born 24 April 1952) is an

Israeli Arab The Arab citizens of Israel are the largest ethnic minority in the country. They comprise a hybrid community of Israeli citizens with a heritage of Palestinian citizenship, mixed religions (Muslim, Christian or Druze), bilingual in Arabic an ...

politician and a former member of the

Knesset The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...

for the Balad party.

Biography

Born in Kafr Kanna in 1952, Taha studied Middle Eastern Studies at the

University of Haifa The University of Haifa ( he, אוניברסיטת חיפה Arabic: جامعة حيفا) is a university located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Founded in 1963, the University of Haifa received full academic accreditation in 1972, becoming Is ...

, receiving a BA. He was first elected to the Knesset in the 2003 elections on Balad's list and retained his seat in the

2006 elections The following elections occurred in the year 2006. * Elections in 2006 * Electoral calendar 2006 * 2006 Acehnese regional election * 2006 American Samoan legislative election * 2006 Bahraini parliamentary election * 2006 Costa Rican presidenti ...

. He caused controversy in July 2006 by stating that the abduction of

IDF IDF or idf may refer to: Defence forces * Irish Defence Forces * Israel Defense Forces *Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006 * Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917 Organizations * Israeli Diving Federation * Interac ...

troops by Palestinian militants was a legitimate form of resistance. In December 2008 he announced that he would not run in the

2009 elections The following elections occurred in the year 2009. * Electoral calendar 2009 * 2009 United Nations Security Council election Caribbean * 2009 Antiguan general election * 2009 Aruban general election * 2009 Caymanian constitutional referendu ...

. Taha still lives in Kafr Kanna and is married with four children.

Quotes

* "Progress for Israel's Arabs depends on changing the entire discriminatory approach of the government over the past 58 years, and not on the appointment of a minister or deputy minister," on the appointment of Raleb Majadele as

Minister without Portfolio A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister who does not head a particular ministry. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet w ...

in January 2007, Israel's first Arab minister.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Taha, Wasil 1952 births Living people University of Haifa alumni Arab members of the Knesset Israeli Muslims Balad (political party) politicians Members of the 16th Knesset (2003–2006) Members of the 17th Knesset (2006–2009)