Issam Makhoul
Issam Makhoul | |
|---|---|
 Makhoul at a demonstration in 2008 | |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 1999–2006 | Hadash |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 July 1952 Peki'in Israel |
| Died | 26 December 2025 (aged 73) |
Issam Makhoul (Arabic: عصام مخول, Hebrew: עיסאם מח'ול; 18 July 1952 – 26 December 2025) was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Hadash between 1999 and 2006. As the Secretary General of Maki, and together with the Central Committee of the party, he directed all communist activities in Israel as well as being responsible for relationships with communist parties in other countries. In late 2003 he was the target of a failed assassination attempt, when a car bomb exploded beneath his vehicle as his wife was backing it out of their driveway.
Life and career
Born in Peki'in,[1] Makhoul studied philosophy and sociology at the University of Haifa, gaining a MA. During his time at university he also became the first chairman of the National Union of Arab Students following its establishment in 1976. After graduating he worked as a sociologist, and was a member of the Emile Touma Institute for Political and Historical Research,[2] which he chaired from 2010 onwards.[1]
Political career
Makhoul joined Maki in 1977, serving as secretary of the Haifa branch during the 1980s.[1] In 1993 he became a member of the party's politburo.[1] He was elected to the Knesset on the Hadash list (an alliance led by Maki) in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003.[2] He was an active critic of Israel's nuclear weapons program, and in 2000 was the first Knesset member to attempt a break in Israel's "nuclear ambiguity" policy by prompting an open debate on Israel's atomic program. He was also a supporter of Mordechai Vanunu, the former Israeli nuclear technician who was imprisoned for revealing details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, and called for Vanunu's release on several occasions. In 2002 he was elected secretary0general of Maki, holding the post until 2007.[1]
Assassination attempt
On 24 October 2003 Makhoul and his wife were preparing to leave their home in central Haifa; Makhoul took his Knesset-supplied Ford, and his wife took their personal Honda, Makhoul's primary transportation prior to Knesset service. Makhoul reversed the Ford out of the driveway, and his wife started the engine of the Honda, intending to pick up their twin children from school. The Honda's ignition sparked an explosion, flooding the vehicle in flames. Suad Makhoul escaped the blast unhurt.[3] In May 2005, two young Jewish men (Alexander Rabinovitch and Eliran Golan) were convicted of obtaining explosive materials for criminal purposes.[4] The two were conspiring to murder prominent Arab figures in Haifa, including Makhoul.[5][6]
Later activities
Makhoul lost his seat in the 2006 elections. Thereafter he was involved in improving ties between Maki and the Chinese Communist Party. He became chairman of Hadash in 2023.[1]
Personal life and death
Makhoul was married to Suad Nasr-Makhoul, an artist and urban planner.[7][8] Makhoul had two children and lived in Haifa.[1][9][2] His brother Ameer was a director of the Haifa-based Ittijah, the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations.[10] Makhoul died on 26 December 2025, at the age of 73.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "עיסאם מח'ול - קורות חיים". Marxists.org.
- ^ a b c "Knesset Member Issam Makhoul". Knesset.
- ^ David Ratner (24 October 2003). "MK's wife unhurt after bomb explodes under her car". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ Ahiya Raaved (24 May 2005). "Jewish terror suspect convicted". Ynetnews. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "ארבע שנות מאסר למסייע לניסיון לרצח ח"כ מחול (In Hebrew)". Haaretz.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "חיפה: פיצוץ במכוניתו של ח"כ עיסאם מח'ול מחד"ש". Ynet (in Hebrew). 2003-10-24. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ^ Kirshtein, Ruli (2020-12-24). "נפתחה הגלריה הפרטית היחידה במגזר הערבי בחיפה". Colbo (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ^ "«غاليري حيفا» تحيي التراث الفلسطيني" (in Arabic). 2020-06-14. Archived from the original on 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ^ a b "وفاة عضو الكنيست السابق عصام مخول عن 72 عامًا بعد أزمة قلبية". i24. 26 December 2025.
- ^ "Israeli Arab activist convicted of spying for Hezbollah". BBC News. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
External links
- Issam Makhoul on the Knesset website