Saadia Marciano
Encyclopedia
Saadia Marciano was an Israel
i social activist and politician, and founder of the Israeli Black Panthers.
, Morocco
in 1950, Marciano's family immigrated
to Israel
before his first birthday, where he grew up in the Musrara
neighborhood of Jerusalem. He was inspired by the example of the Black Panthers to organise a national movement to liberate Mizrahi Jews
, and founded the Israeli Black Panthers in 1971. The organisation's name was attributed to Marciano by Kokhavi Shemesh, who claimed that it was chosen to frighten Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir
.
In 1972, Marciano was part of a Black Panthers group who moved milk bottle
s from middle class neighbourhoods to poor ones. During a demonstration, he was given a black eye
by a police officer
, and this brought him to national attention. The group collapsed the following year, but he continued to campaign for equality, and also set up a drug rehabilitation
centre.
The Black Panthers joined the Left Camp of Israel
party prior to the 1977 elections
, and Marciano received a top five spot on their list. The party won two seats in the Knesset
, and Marciano was one of five people to hold one, on a rotation basis. He entered the Knesset in May 1980, but in November he left the party and sat as an independent MK
, before forming the Equality in Israel - Panthers party. After being joined by Mordechai Elgrably
, the party changed its name to the Unity Party
. However, the party failed to cross the 1% electoral threshold
in the 1981 elections
and Marciano was therefore not re-elected.
A relative of Marciano, Yoram Marciano
, was also a member of the Knesset.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i social activist and politician, and founder of the Israeli Black Panthers.
Biography
Born in OujdaOujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
in 1950, Marciano's family immigrated
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
before his first birthday, where he grew up in the Musrara
Musrara, Jerusalem
Musrara also known by its Hebrew name, Morasha is a neighborhood in Jerusalem. It is bordered by Meah Shearim and Beit Yisrael on the north, the Old City on the south and east, and the Russian Compound and Kikar Safra to the west.-History:...
neighborhood of Jerusalem. He was inspired by the example of the Black Panthers to organise a national movement to liberate Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
, and founded the Israeli Black Panthers in 1971. The organisation's name was attributed to Marciano by Kokhavi Shemesh, who claimed that it was chosen to frighten Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir
Golda Meir
Golda Meir ; May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978) was a teacher, kibbutznik and politician who became the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel....
.
In 1972, Marciano was part of a Black Panthers group who moved milk bottle
Milk bottle
Milk bottles are bottles used for milk. They may be reusable glass bottles used mainly for doorstep delivery of fresh milk by milkmen. Customers are expected to rinse the empty bottles and leave on the doorstep for collection...
s from middle class neighbourhoods to poor ones. During a demonstration, he was given a black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
by a police officer
Israel Police
The Israel Police is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism...
, and this brought him to national attention. The group collapsed the following year, but he continued to campaign for equality, and also set up a drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
centre.
The Black Panthers joined the Left Camp of Israel
Left Camp of Israel
The Left Camp of Israel was a left-wing political party in Israel. It was also known as Sheli , an acronym for Peace for Israel .-Background:...
party prior to the 1977 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1977
The Elections for the ninth Knesset were held on 17 May 1977. For the first time in Israeli political history, the right-wing, led by Likud, won the election, ending almost 30 years of rule by the left-wing Alignment and its predecessor, Mapai...
, and Marciano received a top five spot on their list. The party won two seats in the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, and Marciano was one of five people to hold one, on a rotation basis. He entered the Knesset in May 1980, but in November he left the party and sat as an independent MK
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, before forming the Equality in Israel - Panthers party. After being joined by Mordechai Elgrably
Mordechai Elgrably
Mordechai Elgrably is an Israeli former politician who served as a member of the Knesset for several parties between 1977 and 1981.-Biography:Born in Meknes in Morocco, Elgrably received a religious education and was a member of the scout movement...
, the party changed its name to the Unity Party
Unity Party (Israel)
The Unity Party , officially the Unity Party for the Advancement and Education of the Society in Israel and originally known as Equality in Israel – Panthers was a short-lived political party in...
. However, the party failed to cross the 1% electoral threshold
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
in the 1981 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1981
Elections for the tenth Knesset were held in Israel on 30 June 1981. Despite last minute polls suggesting a victory for Shimon Peres's Alignment, Menachem Begin's Likud won by just one seat...
and Marciano was therefore not re-elected.
A relative of Marciano, Yoram Marciano
Yoram Marciano
Yoram Marciano is an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party between 2006 and 2009.-Biography:Born in Lod, Marciano was first elected to the Knesset in the 2006 elections and served as the Labor-Meimad Parliamentary Group Chairman...
, was also a member of the Knesset.