Wasil Taha

Wasil Taha
Faction represented in the Knesset
2003–2009	Balad
Personal details
Born	Kafr Kanna, Israel

Wasil Taha (Arabic: واصل طه, Hebrew: וואסל טאהה) is an Israeli Arab politician and a former member of the Knesset for the Balad party.

Biography

Born in Kafr Kanna in 1952,^{[citation needed]} Taha studied Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Haifa, receiving a BA.^{[citation needed]}

He was first elected to the Knesset in the 2003 elections on Balad's list and retained his seat in the 2006 elections. He caused controversy in July 2006 by stating that the abduction of IDF troops by Palestinian militants was a legitimate form of resistance.^[1] In December 2008, he announced that he would not run in the 2009 elections.^[2]

Taha still lives in Kafr Kanna and is married with four children.^{[citation needed]}

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 in January 2007, Israel's first Arab minister.^[3]

References

1. "MK won't retract remark that seizing IDF troops is legitimate". Haaretz. 9 July 2006.
2. Sharon Roffe Ofir (13 December 2008). "Balad MK Taha announces resignation". Ynetnews. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
3. Matti Friedman (29 January 2007). "Israeli Cabinet Approves Muslim Minister". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 January 2016.

External links

• Wasil Taha on the Knesset website