Middle East News
Israel to get first acting Druze president
Feb 25, 2007, 12:15 GMT
Tel Aviv - Israel will appoint its first acting Druze president this week, to replace incumbent Dalia Itzik who leaves for a week-long visit to the United States, the Yediot Ahronot daily reported Sunday.
Majali Wahabe, from the ruling Kadima party, will also serve as Acting Knesset Speaker during Itzik's absence, which begins on Tuesday.
Under Israeli law, the Knesset speaker becomes acting president, if the incumbent is absent. Itzik took up the post in late January after Moshe Katsav took leave of absence following the attorney- general's recommendation to indict him for a sex scandal.
Israeli legislative custom dictates that a legislator from the ruling party serve as acting speaker when the incumbent is abroad. Wahabe, 53, serving his second term in the Knesset, is the only Kadima legislator among the seven Deputy Knesset Speakers.
The Druze, a breakaway sect from Islam whose religious system is kept secret form the outside world, are to be found mainly in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan.
Most Druze in Israel are loyal to the state.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
page: 1
page: 1
RamiFeb 25th, 2007 - 20:59:09
Israel to get first acting Druze president????
I am sure to many people an 'acting Druze president' might sound like no big deal or the Israeli public might even raise this as being an issue of having a non-jewish president. But I think there is more to this and it is more like a slap in Syria's face!
Syria wants the Golan Hieghts which is full of Druze, is Israeli trying to win them over?
This position is more symbolic than anything else!!What does this say about the Druze position towards Israel, compared to the more resistant shia or sunni views.
1.Israel Druze must see this is harming non-Israel Druze relations in the Mildde East!!
2. If Israeli gives back the Golan to Syria, the Druze face economic ruin in the Golan. Syria has a bacward economy, and the Druze don't want to be there!
Report this comment