Ahmad Tibi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmad Tibi
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|---|---|
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| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 1999 | Balad |
| 1999–2015 | Ta'al |
| 2015–2019 | Joint List |
| 2019 | Ta'al |
| 2019– | Joint List |
| Other positions | |
| 2006–2019 | Deputy Speaker of the Knesset |
| 2019– | Deputy Speaker of the Knesset |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 December 1958 Tayibe, Israel |
Ahmad Tibi (born 19 December 1958) is a Palestinian-Israeli politician. He leads the Ta'al political party. Since 1999, he has been a member of the Knesset, which is Israel's parliament.
Before joining the Knesset, Tibi was an important advisor. He worked for the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat from 1993 to 1999. Tibi is also a trained doctor. He studied medicine and became a gynecologist.
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Ahmad Tibi's Early Life and Political Start
Tibi was born in 1958 in Tayibe, a town in Israel. This town is about 16 kilometers east of the Mediterranean Sea. His father, Kamal Tibi, was born in Jaffa.
Tibi studied medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He finished his studies with high honors in 1983. He then started working as a gynecologist at Hadassah Hospital.
How Tibi Got Involved in Politics
While studying, Tibi also became interested in politics. In the 1980s, he met many important Palestinian activists. He went to meetings of the PLO around the world. In 1984, he met Yasser Arafat in Tunis. At that time, meeting PLO members was against the law in Israel. Because of his political activities, Tibi was questioned by police several times. He was also arrested once.
Tibi worked as a political advisor for Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. This was from 1993 to 1999. He helped represent Palestinians in important talks. One example was the 1998 Wye River negotiations. He left this job in 1999. This was because he decided to run for a seat in the Knesset. Tibi said his relationship with Arafat was very close. He found it "extremely interesting and important."
Ahmad Tibi's Journey in the Knesset
Tibi was first elected to the Knesset in 1999. He created his own party, Ta'al. He ran together with Azmi Bishara's Balad party. However, he later separated from Balad during the same Knesset session.
Challenges and Re-elections
In 2003, some politicians tried to stop Tibi from running again. They claimed he supported Palestinian interests too much. The Israeli Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify him. But the Supreme Court of Israel disagreed. They overturned the ban, allowing him to run. Tibi was then elected as part of a joint list. This list included Ta'al and Hadash.
Before the 2006 elections, Tibi's Ta'al party left the Hadash group. They joined the United Arab List (UAL). After winning his seat again, he became a Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. He was re-elected on the joint UAL–Ta'al list in 2009 and 2013.
Tibi's Impact as a Parliamentarian
Ahmad Tibi is known as a very effective politician. He works hard for Palestinians living in Israel. He also supports those in the territories Israel controls. He was the first Arab Knesset member to pass a law on his own. This law was about airlines paying customers for delayed flights. He also started a committee in 2008. This committee looked into hiring more Arabs in public jobs. He led this committee until 2012.
Many surveys have shown Tibi is very popular. He is often seen as the most liked Arab member of the Knesset. Reporters who cover parliament have also called him the best public speaker. As of September 2014, Tibi is still a Deputy Speaker. He also leads the UAL-Ta'al Parliamentary Group. He is a member of important committees, like the House Committee and the Finance Committee.
Ahmad Tibi's Political Views
Tibi supports a two-state solution. This means he wants a Palestinian state to exist next to Israel. He believes Israel should withdraw to the borders before 1967.
He also believes Israel should be a "state of all its citizens." This means he thinks all citizens should have equal rights. He believes national symbols should represent everyone. He does not support Arab citizens joining the IDF. Tibi also supports the Palestinian right of return. This means he believes Palestinian refugees should have the right to return to their homes. However, he thinks only a small number would actually choose to move to Israel.
In 2019, during the Israeli elections, Benjamin Netanyahu used the slogan "It's either Bibi or Tibi." This phrase was criticized. Many felt it played on fears about Arab involvement in Israeli politics.
See Also
- List of Arab members of the Knesset
