25 Facts About Haneen Zoabi

Haneen Zoabi, is a Palestinian-Israeli politician.

Haneen Zoabi was born in Nazareth to a Muslim family.

Haneen Zoabi was the first Arab citizen of Israel to graduate in media studies, and established the first media classes in Arab schools.

Haneen Zoabi worked as a mathematics teacher and a school inspector for the Israeli Ministry of Education.

Haneen Zoabi is a relative of Seif el-Din el-Zoubi, a former mayor of Nazareth and member of the Knesset between 1949 and 1959, and again from 1965 until 1979, and Abd el-Aziz el-Zoubi, a Deputy Health Minister and the first Arab member of an Israeli government.

Haneen Zoabi was its general director until she resigned shortly before the 2009 election to focus on her political career.

Haneen Zoabi ran for Knesset as a Balad candidate in 2006, but was too low on the party's electoral list to win a seat.

Haneen Zoabi faced a similar situation prior to the March 2015 elections.

Haneen Zoabi retired from national politics prior to the April 2019 elections, although she was given a symbolic 113th slot on the joint list of Balad and the United Arab List.

Haneen Zoabi considers the two-state solution unrealistic and describes as inherently racist the notion that Israel is a Jewish state.

Haneen Zoabi argues that rejection of the Jewish state concept is the only way to combat Avigdor Lieberman's demand that Israeli citizens take loyalty oaths.

Haneen Zoabi believes that the West should engage with rather than boycott Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

Haneen Zoabi has described soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces as "murderers".

Haneen Zoabi added that [Netanyahu] is "much more dangerous" than Lieberman, because he "shares Lieberman's fascist views but takes care to sugarcoat his message for the international media".

The Jerusalem Post reported in March 2009 that Haneen Zoabi said that she was not concerned that Iran might acquire nuclear weapons.

Balad's chairman at the time, Jamal Zahalka, said that Haneen Zoabi's comments represented an analysis rather than a party position, and did not constitute supporting a nuclear-armed Iran.

On 31 May 2010, Haneen Zoabi participated in the Gaza flotilla, and was on board the MV Mavi Marmara when violence broke out as Israeli commandos boarded the ship.

At a news conference upon her release, Haneen Zoabi called the raid criminal, saying she witnessed two wounded passengers bleed to death after the Israelis refused to provide requested medical aid.

Haneen Zoabi demanded to know why the Israeli government had not released photos and videos it confiscated from passengers that might shed light on why nine passengers were killed and dozens wounded.

Haneen Zoabi received death threats after the speech, and two security guards were assigned for her protection.

Yishai accused Haneen Zoabi of engaging in a "premeditated act of treason", claiming she had assisted activists on board the Mavi Marmara and was "undoubtedly aware" of their preparations to attack IDF soldiers.

Likud MK Yariv Levin accused Haneen Zoabi of betraying the State of Israel, and called for her prosecution.

Haneen Zoabi was stripped of the right to participate in Knesset discussions and to vote in parliamentary committees.

One major embarrassment occurred when Haneen Zoabi made a speaking tour of Ireland.

Haneen Zoabi reported receiving hundreds of death threats in the first days after her comments.