10 Facts About Jamal Zahalka

Jamal Zahalka served as a member of the Knesset for Balad between 2003 and 2019, and was leader of the party between 2007 and 2019.

Jamal Zahalka attended a Jewish high school in nearby Haifa.

Jamal Zahalka was convicted and imprisoned for two years.

Jamal Zahalka worked as a pharmacist prior to his entry into politics.

Jamal Zahalka later joined the Balad party, having met its founder Azmi Bishara at university in 1977.

Jamal Zahalka was elected to the Knesset on Balad's list in 2003, and was re-elected in 2006.

Jamal Zahalka was re-elected in 2009,2013 and 2015.

Jamal Zahalka stepped down as party leader prior to the April 2019 elections and left the Knesset.

Jamal Zahalka describes Israel's political discourse about the Palestinians as revolving around the ideas of separation, apartheid, and transfer.

Jamal Zahalka argues that an apartheid system is already in place, with the West Bank and Gaza Strip separated into "cantons," and Palestinians required to carry permits to travel between them.