Health Minister Victor Shemtov informed the Knesset officially yesterday that he has appointed Abdel Aziz-Zuabi, an Israeli Arab from Nazareth, to the post of Deputy Minister of Health. Zuabi, a Knesset member who served two terms as Nazareth’s Deputy Mayor, is the first Arab to be elevated to semi-Cabinet rank in Israel. He and Shemtov are members of Mapam. Zuabi has publicly declared his loyalty to Israel, though he also proclaims himself a loyal son of the Arab nation, and has referred to the Arab-Israel conflict as “tragic.” He has been a member of Mapam since 1950. The Cabinet approved Zuabi’s pending appointment last week after nearly a year’s delay. The delay was due to the Labor Party’s insistence on a similar post for one of its own Arab MKs. The Labor candidate was Seif Eddin el-Zuabi, a cousin and bitter personal enemy of Abdel Aziz. The problem was resolved last month when Seif was elected Mayor of Nazareth as a result of a coalition agreement. As mayor he could not serve as a deputy minister. Abdel Aziz Zuabi told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last week that he didn’t think the appointment of an Arab as deputy minister was premature. “In fact, I think the time has come for an Arab to serve as a minister with full Cabinet rank,” he said.
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