Labib Hussein Abu Rokan
Encyclopedia
Labib Hussein Abu Rokan was a Druze
Israel
i politician who served as a member of the Knesset
for Cooperation and Brotherhood
between 1959 and 1961.
during the Ottoman era
. During the Arab revolt in the late 1930s, he was involved in establishing links with Abba Hushi
(secretary of Haifa
Workers Council) and the Haganah
, and was also a member of the Histadrut
-affiliated Union of Workers in Eretz Yisrael.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
he recruited Druze volunteers to fight in the Israel Defense Forces
. Following the war, he helped establish co-operative groups in Druze and Arab villages, including Bustan, which sold vegetables. In 1950 he became head of Isfiya
local council, holding the role until 1959, when he was elected to the Knesset. Although the party retained its two-seat strength in the 1961 elections
, both Abu Rokan and Yussef Diab
lost their seats.
In 1963 he was appointed Qadi
of the Druze Religious Court, and in 1980 became a qadi in the Druze Religious Appeals Court.
He died in 1989.
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician who served as a member of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
for Cooperation and Brotherhood
Cooperation and Brotherhood
Cooperation and Brotherhood was a political party in Israel.-History:Cooperation and Brotherhood was an Israeli Arab organisation formed to participate in the 1959 elections...
between 1959 and 1961.
Biography
Abu Rokan was born in IsfiyaIsfiya
Isfiya , also known as Ussefiya, is a Druze village and local council in northern Israel. Located on Mount Carmel, it is part of Haifa District. In 2009 it had a population of 25,400. In 2003, the local council was merged with nearby Daliyat al-Karmel to form Carmel City...
during the Ottoman era
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. During the Arab revolt in the late 1930s, he was involved in establishing links with Abba Hushi
Abba Hushi
Abba Hushi was an Israeli politician who served as mayor of Haifa for eighteen years between 1951 to 1969. Hushi was one of the founders and activists of Hashomer Hatzair movement in Poland. In July 1920, he immigrated to Palestine with a group of 130 Jewish pioneers. In Palestine, he took the...
(secretary of Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
Workers Council) and the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
, and was also a member of the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
-affiliated Union of Workers in Eretz Yisrael.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
he recruited Druze volunteers to fight in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. Following the war, he helped establish co-operative groups in Druze and Arab villages, including Bustan, which sold vegetables. In 1950 he became head of Isfiya
Isfiya
Isfiya , also known as Ussefiya, is a Druze village and local council in northern Israel. Located on Mount Carmel, it is part of Haifa District. In 2009 it had a population of 25,400. In 2003, the local council was merged with nearby Daliyat al-Karmel to form Carmel City...
local council, holding the role until 1959, when he was elected to the Knesset. Although the party retained its two-seat strength in the 1961 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1961
Elections for the fifth Knesset were held in Israel on 15 August 1961. Voter turnout was 81.6%.-Results:¹ Eight MKs broke away from Mapai to establish Rafi² Herut and the Liberal Party merged to form Gahal...
, both Abu Rokan and Yussef Diab
Yussef Diab
Yussef Abdallah Diab was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Cooperation and Brotherhood between 1959 and 1961.-Biography:...
lost their seats.
In 1963 he was appointed Qadi
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
of the Druze Religious Court, and in 1980 became a qadi in the Druze Religious Appeals Court.
He died in 1989.