Former minister of agriculture and rural development Walid Haj Yahia passes away at age 79

Former MK Walid Haj Yahia passed away on Thursday at the age of 79.

Yahia served as the minister of agriculture and development on behalf of the Meretz party in Yitzhak Rabin's government. He was born in Tayibe during the mandate era and studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, holding a BA in sociology and political science.

Yahia worked as the headmaster of a high school in Tayibe for 23 years and was a member of the Teachers' Union's Central Committee.