Mohammed Miari
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Miari is an Israeli Arab former politician who headed the Progressive List for Peace
during the 1980s and early 1990s.
, a village which was depopulated as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
. He grew up in Makr and attended high school in Kafr Yasif
, and was also a member of the Arab Youth Pioneer movement. He later studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, and was certified as a lawyer.
Whilst at university, he became active in Arab student politics. He was amongst the founders of the al-Ard
movement, was placed third on the Arab Socialist List for the 1965 Knesset elections
, although the list was eventually prevented from running by the Central Elections Committee
.
In 1984 he was amongst the founders of the Progressive List for Peace, and was elected to the Knesset in the elections that year
. During his first term in office he was a member of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee. The party was initially banned from contesting the 1988 elections
by the Central Elections Committee on the basis that it violated the Basic Law
on the Knesset, which stated that parties should not aim for a "negation of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people". The PLFP appealed to the Supreme Court
and the ban was overturned. Miari was re-elected, though the party was reduced to a single seat. He lost his seat in the 1992 elections
, in which the PLFP won only 0.9% of the vote, failing to cross the 1.5% electoral threshold.
During his time in the Knesset, there were two attempts to remove his parliamentary immunity; one over his attendance at a meeting in memory of Fuad Kawasme, who had been removed from his position as mayor of Hebron
, and the second for meeting PLO
leaders in 1988 and a press conference at which he expressed support for the First Intifada
. Both attempts failed.
He later joined Balad, and was given the symbolic last place on its list for the 2003 elections.
Progressive List for Peace
The Progressive List for Peace was a left-wing political party in Israel formed from an alliance of both Arab and Jewish left-wing activists.-History:...
during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Biography
Miari was born during the Mandate era in al-BirwaAl-Birwa
Al-Birwa was a Palestinian Arab village, located east of Acre . Mentioned by Arab geographers in the 11th century, it was known to the Crusaders as Broet. Al-Birwa was captured from the Mamluks by the Ottomans in the 16th century. In the 19th century, it had a mosque, a church, and an elementary...
, a village which was depopulated as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
. He grew up in Makr and attended high school in Kafr Yasif
Kafr Yasif
Kafr Yasif is a Arab town in the North District of Israel. It is located northeast of the city of Acre and adjacent to Abu Sinan. The population of Kafr Yasif is largely Christian with a significant Muslim minority , and a small Druze community....
, and was also a member of the Arab Youth Pioneer movement. He later studied law at 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...
, and was certified as a lawyer.
Whilst at university, he became active in Arab student politics. He was amongst the founders of the al-Ard
Al-Ard
Al-Ard was a political movement made up of Arab citizens of Israel active between 1958 and some time in the 1970s. It was the first Arab dissident group of significance to emerge from within Israel that managed to attract the attention of parallel Palestinian nationalist movements outside...
movement, was placed third on the Arab Socialist List for the 1965 Knesset elections
Israeli legislative election, 1965
Elections for the sixth Knesset were held in Israel on 1 November 1965. Voter turnout was 85.9%.-Background:Prior to the elections, two major alliances were formed; Mapai and Ahdut HaAvoda united to form the Alignment, whilst Herut and the Liberal Party had formed the Gahal alliance towards the end...
, although the list was eventually prevented from running by the Central Elections Committee
Israeli Central Elections Committee
The Israeli Central Elections Committee is the body charged under the Knesset Elections Law of 1969 to carry out the elections for the upcoming Knesset. The committee is composed of Knesset members representating various parliamentary groups and is chaired by a Supreme Court Justice...
.
In 1984 he was amongst the founders of the Progressive List for Peace, and was elected to the Knesset in the elections that year
Israeli legislative election, 1984
Elections for the eleventh Knesset were held in Israel on 23 July 1984. Voter turnout was 78.8%. The results saw the Alignment return to being the largest party in the Knesset, a status it had lost in 1977...
. During his first term in office he was a member of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee. The party was initially banned from contesting the 1988 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1988
Elections for the twelfth Knesset were held in Israel on 1 November 1988. Voter turnout was 79.7%.-Results:1 Five members of the Likud left to form the Party for the Advancement of the Zionist Idea; after two returned, the party was renamed the New Liberal Party...
by the Central Elections Committee on the basis that it violated the Basic Law
Basic Laws of Israel
The Basic Laws of Israel are a key component of Israel's constitutional law. These laws deal with the formation and role of the principal state's institutions, and the relations between the state's authorities. Some of them also protect civil rights...
on the Knesset, which stated that parties should not aim for a "negation of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people". The PLFP appealed to the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
and the ban was overturned. Miari was re-elected, though the party was reduced to a single seat. He lost his seat in the 1992 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1992
Elections for the thirteenth Knesset were held in Israel on 23 June 1992. The result was a victory for the left, led by Yitzhak Rabin's Labor Party, though their win was at least partially due to several small right-wing parties narrowly failing to cross the electoral threshold and thus effectively...
, in which the PLFP won only 0.9% of the vote, failing to cross the 1.5% electoral threshold.
During his time in the Knesset, there were two attempts to remove his parliamentary immunity; one over his attendance at a meeting in memory of Fuad Kawasme, who had been removed from his position as mayor of 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...
, and the second for meeting PLO
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
leaders in 1988 and a press conference at which he expressed support for the First Intifada
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
. Both attempts failed.
He later joined Balad, and was given the symbolic last place on its list for the 2003 elections.