Amal Nasser el-Din

Amal Nasser el-Din
Faction represented in the Knesset
1977–1988Likud
Personal details
Born(1928-07-31)31 July 1928
Daliyat al-Karmel,
Mandatory Palestine
Died9 February 2025(2025-02-09) (aged 96)

Amal Nasser el-Din (Arabic: أمل نصر الدين, Hebrew: אמל נסראלדין; 31 July 1928 – 9 February 2025) was an Israeli Druze author and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1977 and 1988. In 2023 he was awarded the Israel Prize for Special contribution to Society and the State.

Career

El-Din headed the section for demobilised soldiers from 1961 and 1964[1] and was founder and director of the Yad LeBanim memorial project.[2] From 1964 until 1971 he served as secretary of the Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya Workers Council.[1]

Originally a member of Mapai, he joined Herut in 1971.[1] He was on the Likud list (an alliance of Herut and other right-wing parties) for the 1973 Knesset elections, but failed to win a seat. However, he entered the Knesset on 21 January 1977 as a replacement for Akiva Nof,[3] who had resigned after leaving Likud.[4] El-Din was re-elected in the May 1977 elections, and again in 1981 and 1984, before losing his seat in the 1988 elections.[5]

In 1973, el-Din founded the Zionist Druze Circle,[6][7] a group whose aim was to encourage the Druze to support the state of Israel fully and unreservedly.[8] Regarding Druze belief and Jewish-Druze relations, he stated: "We believe in the same Bible as the Jews. We believe that Isaac, not Ishmael was brought for sacrifice. Mohammad is not our prophet. We are the descendants of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law."[9]

In 2023 el-Din was awarded the Israel Prize for Special contribution to Society and the State.[2]

Personal life

El-Din was born in Daliyat al-Karmel on 31 July 1928.[2]

In 1969, his son Lutfi was killed on the last day of his national service. In 2008 his grandson, also named Lutfi, was killed during Operation Cast Lead.[2]

El-Din died on 9 February 2025, at the age of 96.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Knesset Member, Amal Nasereldeen". knesset.gov.il. Archived from the original on 2004-05-03. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  2. ^ a b c d Odeh, Samar (23 March 2023). "The Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement will be awarded to Amal Nasreddin". haipo.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Knesset Members in the Eighth Knesset". knesset.gov.il. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  4. ^ "Parliamentary Groups in the Knesset". knesset.gov.il. Archived from the original on 2020-11-02. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  5. ^ a b "Druze community leader, former Likud MK Amal Nasser el-Din, passes away at 96". The Jerusalem Post. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  6. ^ The Druzes in the Jewish state: a brief history By Kais Firro, page 210
  7. ^ Minorities in the Middle East: a history of struggle and self-expression. By Mordechai Nisan. McFarland, 2002 p. 109
  8. ^ The Arab minority in Israel, 1967-1991: political aspects By Jacob M. Landau. p. 46
  9. ^ Mordechai Nisan (1 Jan 2002). Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle and Self-Expression, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 282. ISBN 9780786451333.