Victory for Peretz: Majadele to be minister

The Labor Party's central committee approved Thursday the appoinment of Israel's first Muslim cabinet minister, Raleb Majadele. Majadele replaces Ophir Pines-Paz as minister of culture, technology, and sports.

Yet, as the Labor Party is wont to do, especially with such sensitive timing, the party has made quite a commotion about this historic appointment. There was a debate as to whether this authority rests in Labor Chairman Amir Peretz's hands alone, or in the hands of all the party members.

Shanan grabs microphone during Labor Party meeting (Photo: Yaron Brener)

However, Shakib Shanan, the Druze representative on the Labor Party list, also sees himself as a worthy candidate to be appointed as minister as he was only a step away from being a Knesset member.

His followers made angry calls and created a commotion during the meeting in Tel Aviv. Shanan himself charged the stage and grabbed hold of the microphone – not an unfamiliar site in the party's Central Committee meetings.

Later, Shanan apologized for his actions, and promised that "there won't be any ethnic wars." He even claimed that he had no intentions of "getting in over his head," and that "if Raleb is voted in, he will also represent us."

In addition, he reiterated claims within the Druze sector that there is discrimination against them and thta they are not well-represented in the party. Former minister Saleh Tarif warned against injecting the debate with ethnic and religious overtones.

'Message of equality'  

In statements he made before the Central Committee, Peretz said: "This is one of the most important decisions. We have come to convey an important message."

According to Peretz, "It is so simple for a chairman to pass off responsibility to the party institutions. But who can tell me why, today of all days, when an Arab minister is being added, the method changed?"

The star of the night Majadele said: "I won't hide behind slogans. I will only say the truth, because the public is watching. The Labor Party has made a historic decision today – this is a historic, unprecedented step. Everyone will have to look in the mirror."

He explained that he agreed to be minister in order to be a response to Lieberman. "I pleaded before Ophir Pines-Paz not to resign. I want to be in a party that won't fold before Lieberman," he said.

On Shanan's claims on the post: "With all due respect, we are from different districts, and we are the biggest district. Do you want the Arab public to sink to the lowest rung?"