After eight years as chairman of the Supreme Arab Monitoring Committee and twenty years as the head of the Ifieh local council, Shauki Hatib announced his resignation in response to the "change in the way the Israeli establishment has been treating the Arab sector."
Prior to Hatib's formal announcement, many in the community hoped to be able to prevent his resignation. "People were very persistent in trying to persuade me (to stay)," he said. "Local residents and people across the state."
"I explained to everyone that I respect them and ask that they respect my decision. Every leader needs to reassess himself and, in my opinion, it's time for me to leave."
Hatib, originally a structural engineer, began his career in politics at 32 serving on his local council. In 2001, he was appointed as the chairman of the Supreme Arab Monitoring Committee, a position in which he received many compliments.
He was terse regarding the past almost decade, saying that it was difficult to sum up the work of years in a few words.
"I took up the position and took the committee to a different place," conceded Hatib, who is affiliated with the Hadash communist party. "Many people were scared of change," he added.
Prior to his exit from the political stage, he wished newly elected Kadima chairman Tzipi Livni good luck. "I hope she succeeds. I am not involved in these things. I am involved in local elections in Ifieh."
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