12 Facts About Nadia Hilou

Nadia Hilou was an Arab-Israeli social worker and politician, who served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party between 2006 and 2009.

Nadia Hilou was the second female Israeli Arab MK after Hussniya Jabara, and the first female Christian MK.

Nadia Hilou studied at Tel Aviv University where she gained a BA in social work in 1976.

Nadia Hilou later returned to qualify for an MA in the same subject.

Nadia Hilou entered politics following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.

Nadia Hilou joined the Labour Party, and ran in party primaries prior to the Knesset elections in 1996 and 1999; however, on both occasions she failed to finish high enough up the list to win a seat, and was criticised for not joining one of the Arab parties.

However, in the run-up to the 2006 elections Nadia Hilou won 15th place on Labour's list in the party's primaries.

The party won 19 seats and Nadia Hilou took her place in the Knesset, relinquishing her previous positions.

Nadia Hilou served as chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Nadia Hilou has initiated legislation on compensating the relatives of murder victims.

Nadia Hilou lived in Jaffa, and died in February 2015 from cancer.

Nadia Hilou was survived by a husband and four daughters, Natali, Cristina, Rola and Rena.