MK Shakib Shenan
Druze MK succeeds resigning Sneh
'Labor has yet to fulfill its role in history,' says new MK Shakib Shanan as he steps in to fill Ephraim Sneh's seat after latter splinters from Labor. Shanan pledges to advance education, welfare concerns of minority groups
The night of the 2006 elections Shakib Shanan was barely a hair's breadth from becoming Labor's 20th MK, only to see eleventh hour voting figures turn the tables and strip the party of the coveted parliament seat.
Shanan, 47, suffered an additional blow when the Labor Central Committee chose MK Raleb Majadele over him as minister of science, culture and sport.
But with the sudden resignation of MK Ephraim Sneh, who left Labor to establish a new political faction, Shanan will finally join the Knesset ranks.
"My focus will be on advancing minority groups, particularly the Druze and the Circassians," Shenan said on Sunday. "I am primarily interested in education, welfare and equal rights. I will do everything to help strengthen Labor's position with the general public and with minorities."
Adopting a strikingly different tone than Sneh regarding his party, Shenan said he had great confidence in Labor and its chairman.
"Despite what some might think, Labor has not yet fulfilled its role in history. (Chairman Ehud) Barak is the elected leader of Labor, and I respect him. He is a worthy man," said Shenan.
