Muhamad Kanan
Encyclopedia
Muhamad Kanan is an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset
for the United Arab List
and the Arab National Party
between 1999 and 2003.
, before studying community centre management at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and then working as a high school teacher. Between 1980 and 1988 he served as deputy mayor of his hometown, and chaired the management council of the town's community centre between 1981 and 1989.
He was elected to the Knesset on the United Arab List list in the 1999 elections, but on 19 February 2001, left the party to establish the Arab National Party along with Tawfik Khatib
. The new party did not participate in the 2003 elections, and both lost their seats.
In the run-up to the 2006 elections it looked like Kanan would join Hadash
. However, the party then entered the election race, before withdrawing and announcing its support for Balad, though by then it was too late to take the party's name off the ballot. On election day the party picked up only 738 votes (0.02%), the second lowest in total and far below the electoral threshold
of 2%.
In December 2008, Kanan joined the new Arab Centre Party, and was given second place on its Knesset list.
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 the United Arab List
United Arab List
The United Arab List , commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Ra'am , is a political party representing and supported by Israeli Arabs...
and the Arab National Party
Arab National Party
The Arab National Party , alternatively rendered as the National Arab Party, is a minor Israeli Arab political party in Israel led by Muhamad Kanan.-Background:...
between 1999 and 2003.
Biography
Born in Tamra, Kanan gained a BA at the Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBen-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is a university in Beersheba, Israel, established in 1969. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has a current enrollment of 17,400 students, and is one of Israel's fastest growing universities....
, before studying community centre management at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and then working as a high school teacher. Between 1980 and 1988 he served as deputy mayor of his hometown, and chaired the management council of the town's community centre between 1981 and 1989.
He was elected to the Knesset on the United Arab List list in the 1999 elections, but on 19 February 2001, left the party to establish the Arab National Party along with Tawfik Khatib
Tawfik Khatib
Tawfik Khatib is a former Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the United Arab List and the Arab National Party between 1996 and 2003.-Biography:...
. The new party did not participate in the 2003 elections, and both lost their seats.
In the run-up to the 2006 elections it looked like Kanan would join Hadash
Hadash
Hadash is a Jewish and Arab socialist front of organizations that runs for the Israeli parliament. It currently has four members in the 120-seat Knesset.-Background:...
. However, the party then entered the election race, before withdrawing and announcing its support for Balad, though by then it was too late to take the party's name off the ballot. On election day the party picked up only 738 votes (0.02%), the second lowest in total and far below the electoral threshold
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
of 2%.
In December 2008, Kanan joined the new Arab Centre Party, and was given second place on its Knesset list.