Rostam Bastuni
Encyclopedia
Rostam Bastuni was an Israel
i politician and journalist, and the first Arab citizen of Israel to represent a Zionist
party in the Knesset
.
family in Mandate Palestine from the mixed city of Haifa
. He attended the Technion
, graduating with a degree in architecture
, going on to become a teacher.
Going into politics, Bastuni joined the Arab branch of Mapam
. He quickly rose through the party ranks, and although not elected, he served as the party's secretary in the first Knesset
. He also edited the Arabic
edition of Mapam's weekly magazine, Al-Fajar.
For the 1951 elections
he was placed high enough on their list to win a place in the Knesset, thus becoming the first Israeli Arab to represent a Zionist party (three Arab MKs had served in the first Knesset, but none of them for Zionist parties - one had been a member of the communist Maki
and the other two were members of an Arab party, the Democratic List of Nazareth
).
During his first Knesset term, internal divisions over the Prague Trials
led to Mapam splitting. On 20 February 1951 Bastuni left the party and set up the Left Faction
with Avraham Berman and Moshe Sneh
. However, whilst Berman and Sneh went on to join Maki, Bastuni returned to Mapam on 1 November 1954.
Bastuni lost his seat in the 1955 elections
and did not return to the Knesset. In 1963, his nephew, Hassan Boustouni
, became the first Arab to play in the top tier of the Israeli Premier League when he debuted with Maccabi Haifa F.C.
. Later, he served as an advisor in the Ministry of Housing on issues pertaining to Arab settlements. He was also dedicated to furthering Jewish-Arab harmony, and in 1966 he founded the Actions Committee of Israeli Arabs for Israel. In 1969 he emigrated to the United States
, where he became an advocate of the binational (one state) solution
, publishing his views in the New York Times in 1972. He later taught Middle Eastern history at the State University of New York
and became the chief architect of the New York City Technical College.
He died in 1994 at the age of 71.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician and journalist, and the first Arab citizen of Israel to represent a Zionist
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
party in 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...
.
Biography
Bastuni was born into a ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
family in Mandate Palestine from the mixed city 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...
. He attended the Technion
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology is a research-intensive institute of technology in Haifa, Israel. Originally called the Technikum, it was founded in 1912...
, graduating with a degree in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, going on to become a teacher.
Going into politics, Bastuni joined the Arab branch of Mapam
Mapam
Mapam was a political party in Israel and is one of the ancestors of the modern-day Meretz party.-History:Mapam was formed by a January 1948 merger of the Hashomer Hatzair Workers Party and Ahdut HaAvoda Poale Zion Movement. The party was originally Marxist-Zionist in its outlook and represented...
. He quickly rose through the party ranks, and although not elected, he served as the party's secretary in the first Knesset
Israeli legislative election, 1949
Elections for the Constituent Assembly were held in newly independent Israel on 25 January 1949. Voter turnout was 86.9%. Two days after its first meeting on 14 February 1949, legislators voted to change the name of the body to the Knesset...
. He also edited the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
edition of Mapam's weekly magazine, Al-Fajar.
For the 1951 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1951
Elections for the second Knesset were held in Israel on 30 July 1951. Voter turnout was 75.1%.-Results:¹ Rostam Bastuni, Avraham Berman and Moshe Sneh left Mapam and set up the Left Faction. Bastuni later returned to Mapam whilst Berman and Sneh joined Maki. Hannah Lamdan and David Livschitz left...
he was placed high enough on their list to win a place in the Knesset, thus becoming the first Israeli Arab to represent a Zionist party (three Arab MKs had served in the first Knesset, but none of them for Zionist parties - one had been a member of the communist Maki
Maki (historical political party)
Maki was a communist political party in Israel. It is not the same party as the modern day Maki, which split from it during the 1960s and later assumed its name.-History:...
and the other two were members of an Arab party, the Democratic List of Nazareth
Democratic List of Nazareth
The Democratic List of Nazareth was a political party in Israel and the only Israeli Arab party to win seats in the first Knesset. The party, which was sponsored by David Ben-Gurion's Mapai, was so named as it was based in Nazareth, the largest Arab city in Israel.-History:In the 1949 elections,...
).
During his first Knesset term, internal divisions over the Prague Trials
Slánský trials
The Slánský trial was a show trial against elements of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia who were thought to have adopted the line of the maverick Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito...
led to Mapam splitting. On 20 February 1951 Bastuni left the party and set up the Left Faction
Left Faction
The Left Faction was a short-lived political party in Israel.-History:The Left Faction was formed on 20 February 1952 as a breakaway from Mapam in the aftermath of the Prague Trials...
with Avraham Berman and Moshe Sneh
Moshe Sneh
Moshe Sneh was an Israeli politician and military figure. One of the founders of Mapam, he later joined the Israeli Communist Party , and was one of the leaders of a more pro-Israeli split in 1965.-Biography:...
. However, whilst Berman and Sneh went on to join Maki, Bastuni returned to Mapam on 1 November 1954.
Bastuni lost his seat in the 1955 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1955
Elections for the third Knesset were held in Israel on 26 July 1955. Voter turnout was 82.8%.-Results:Mapai retained its plurality in the Knesset, although its share of the vote dropped by 5.1 and its share of seats dropped from 47 to 40...
and did not return to the Knesset. In 1963, his nephew, Hassan Boustouni
Hassan Boustouni
Hassan Boustouni was an Arab Israeli footballer with Maccabi Haifa F.C. of the Israeli Premier League. Beginning his career in 1963, Boustouni was the first Arab footballer in the league's history. He was also the nephew of Rostam Bastuni, the first Arab citizen of Israel to represent a Zionist...
, became the first Arab to play in the top tier of the Israeli Premier League when he debuted with Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
. Later, he served as an advisor in the Ministry of Housing on issues pertaining to Arab settlements. He was also dedicated to furthering Jewish-Arab harmony, and in 1966 he founded the Actions Committee of Israeli Arabs for Israel. In 1969 he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he became an advocate of the binational (one state) solution
Binational solution
The one-state solution and the similar binational solution are proposed approaches to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Proponents of a binational solution to the conflict advocate either a single state in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, or a single state in Israel and the West...
, publishing his views in the New York Times in 1972. He later taught Middle Eastern history at the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
and became the chief architect of the New York City Technical College.
He died in 1994 at the age of 71.