Abdel Rahman Zuabi
Encyclopedia
Abdel Rahman Zuabi (born November 19, 1932 in Sulam
) also Romanized as Abd-er-Rahman Zoabi) is a retired Israel
i judge
, who served as a deputy chief of the district court in Nazareth
between 1996 and 2002. He also served on the Israeli Supreme Court for nine months in 1999, making him the first Israeli Arab on the country's highest court.
Zuabi was born in northern Israel, in the village of Sulam
near the city of Afula
. He was the first Arab to graduate from the Tel Aviv School of Law and Economics (now a part of Tel Aviv University
). He is a Muslim
: He does not pray regularly, but does observe some Muslim customs, such as fasting during Ramadan
and not drinking alcohol
.
Zuabi moved to Nazareth
, the largest city with a predominantly Arab population in the country, to start his judicial career with an appointment to the Nazareth District Court in the late 1970s. During his time on the court, he gained a reputation for particularly tough sentences passed on drug traffickers, including giving a 20-year sentence to one drug dealer, the longest drug-related sentence ever handed out by an Israeli court .
In 1994, he was appointed to the commission that investigated the Mosque of Abraham massacre in Hebron
. On March 3, 1999, he was appointed by Ehud Barak
's administration to the Israeli Supreme Court for a nine-month term, the first Arab to serve on the court.
Sulam
Sulam is an Arab village in north-eastern Israel. Known in ancient times as Shunama and Shunem, it is first mentioned in the Amarna Letters in the 14th century BCE. Archaeological excavations in the village attest to habitation extending from the Bronze Age through to modern times. Located near...
) also Romanized as Abd-er-Rahman Zoabi) is a retired Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, who served as a deputy chief of the district court in Nazareth
Nazareth
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...
between 1996 and 2002. He also served on the Israeli Supreme Court for nine months in 1999, making him the first Israeli Arab on the country's highest court.
Zuabi was born in northern Israel, in the village of Sulam
Sulam
Sulam is an Arab village in north-eastern Israel. Known in ancient times as Shunama and Shunem, it is first mentioned in the Amarna Letters in the 14th century BCE. Archaeological excavations in the village attest to habitation extending from the Bronze Age through to modern times. Located near...
near the city of Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
. He was the first Arab to graduate from the Tel Aviv School of Law and Economics (now a part of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
). He is a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
: He does not pray regularly, but does observe some Muslim customs, such as fasting during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
and not drinking alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
Zuabi moved to Nazareth
Nazareth
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...
, the largest city with a predominantly Arab population in the country, to start his judicial career with an appointment to the Nazareth District Court in the late 1970s. During his time on the court, he gained a reputation for particularly tough sentences passed on drug traffickers, including giving a 20-year sentence to one drug dealer, the longest drug-related sentence ever handed out by an Israeli court .
In 1994, he was appointed to the commission that investigated the Mosque of Abraham massacre in Hebron
Hebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
. On March 3, 1999, he was appointed by Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
's administration to the Israeli Supreme Court for a nine-month term, the first Arab to serve on the court.
External links and Sources
- "First Arab Named To Israeli Supreme Court", Jewish Virtual Library (accessed October 7, 2005)
- "Israeli Arab waited 20 years to join Supreme Court", j.: The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, March 12, 1999