Ayoob Kara

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Abir Kara.

Ayoob Kara
Ministerial roles
2017Minister in the PM's Office
2017–2019Minister of Communications
Faction represented in the Knesset
1999–2006Likud
2009–2013Likud
2015–2019Likud
2020–2021Likud
Personal details
Born (1955-03-12) 12 March 1955 (age 69)
Daliyat al-Karmel, Israel

Ayoob Kara (

Israeli Druze politician. He has served as a member of the Knesset for Likud in four spells between 1999 and 2021, and as Minister of Communications
.

Biography

Kara was born in

post-traumatic stress disorder. Serving alongside Jews before and after the establishment of Israel has been a source of family pride; his uncle was killed during the Arab revolt in 1939 and his father served in the IDF during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Another uncle was also killed by Arabs then and two of his brothers were killed in action in the 1982 Lebanon War.[1] Following his national service, Kara studied Business Administration. Today, he lives in Daliyat al-Karmel
with his wife and five children.

Political career

Kara was placed 35th on the

Speaker of the Knesset and served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Workers. He retained his seat in the 2003 elections and became chairman of the Anti-Drug Committee. Speaking out during the Second Intifada, he condemned Arab MKs for incitement.[3]

Kara opposed the Gaza disengagement plan championed by prime minister Ariel Sharon, and was almost ejected from Knesset with Michael Ratzon for "repeated disturbances".[4] When Sharon announced plans to break from Likud, Kara refused to defect to Kadima in 2005 and criticized other MKs that did, including Shaul Mofaz.[5] He praised Likud's "glorious past" and said it will return stronger, despite the split.[6] He lost his seat in the 2006 elections, when Likud dropped to 12 seats.

Nevertheless, he remained active in politics. He met with Hebron residents and criticized the demolition of a Jewish home there, calling Kadima chairman Tzipi Livni as "good for Hamas".[7]

Deputy Minister for the Development of the Negev and Galilee

Announcing his intention to run in the Likud primary for the

Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee. He is the first non-Jewish nationalist to receive a portfolio.[8] Kara opposed the inclusion of Kadima in Netanyahu's government, saying that Likud had "no room for traitors".[9]

As Deputy Minister, Kara cited demographic issues as a growing threat to Israel. He promoted development of the two regions to encourage Jews to stay and work there. He worked to help former soldiers to study for free at colleges in the

Yirka.[12]

Foreign relations

Shortly after the election, the family of Ouda Tarabin, an Israeli Bedouin convicted of espionage in absentia by Egypt, enlisted Kara's support to gain Tarabin's release. Tarabin entered Egypt in 2000 illegally, and was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[13] Kara also led a group of Druze, Bedouins, and Muslims that met with the family of Gilad Shalit to show support for his release from Hamas, who kidnapped Shalit in a 2006 raid.[14]

Kara met with Turkish ambassador to Israel, Ahmet Oğuz Çelikkol, to improve Israel–Turkey relations, citing Turkey as a "proven" ally to Israel.[15] However, relations deteriorated after the Gaza flotilla raid. Kara has also been instrumental in improving relations with Syria and Lebanon. Just before the 2009 election, he claimed to have met with Syrian officials in Washington, D. C., who said Syria was interested in revisiting talks to improve relations. However, the Syrian embassy in Washington denied the meeting took place, as did a spokesman for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[16][17] He has also been outspoken in his opposition to proposed divisions of the border village of Ghajar, comparing it to the Berlin Wall.[18]

In 2010, he worked to improve economic and humanitarian ties between Israel and Syria. Druze farmers in the Golan Heights now import water from Syria and export thousands of tons of apples every year. In addition, Druze were able to visit relatives in Syria for the first time in decades and also receive organ transplants there.[19][20] In addition, he has coordinated burials for families between Syria, Lebanon, and the Golan Heights.[21][22] Kara is hopeful that these "cracks in the great wall between Israel and Syria" will one day lead to real negotiations for peace.[19] Or at the very least, he hopes to cut down the bureaucracy preventing humanitarian exchanges between Israel and Syria.[23] Kara has also called for mines to be removed from the Golan Heights, citing them as dangerous to travelers and not needed for Israel's defense.[24]

When several pro-Israel European politicians visited Israel, Kara and other Knesset members joined the Europeans to condemn the Gaza disengagement and lack of assistance to former Jewish residents of Gaza, who had been expelled from their homes. Kara urged stronger relationships with European politicians that support Israel.

Third Reich
. Israel had scaled back its diplomatic relations with Austria when the party entered into the Austrian government a few years ago.

The head of a

Syrian Civil War to guard, should unrest threaten the sites.[28] The group planned to set up a religious court to arbitrate regional disputes. Kara also said "Turkey is eager to reestablish its ties with Israel."[29] In May 2011, Kara claimed that the opposition movement in the Syrian Civil War had approached him to seek help for their movement from the United Nations, United States, and European Union.[30]

Kara was placed 39th on the Likud Yisrael Beiteinu list for the 2013 elections,[31] losing his seat as the alliance won only 31 seats. However, he returned to the Knesset following the 2015 elections, for which he was placed 24th on the Likud list. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation.

Minister of Communications

In January 2017, Netanyahu appointed Kara as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. In May of the same year, Netanyahu appointed Kara as Minister of Communications.[32]

In the April 2019 elections, Kara was placed 39th in the Likud list and not re-elected.[33][34] In September 2019, a tape was leaked of a conversation between Kara and Netanyahu in which the latter demanded that Kara close down the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council. Kara was blamed by several Likud politicians for the leak, but denied involvement.[34]

Views and opinions

Kara is known as a staunch conservative in the Knesset, supporting "hawkish" and Zionist views. He opposed the Gaza

disengagement and the 2009–10 settlement freeze. He was a supporter of Moshe Feiglin's Manhigut Yehudit faction, within Likud.[8]

Gaza

During the months preceding the

withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, warning that Hezbollah would gain power in Israel's absence.[1]

After the

Gaza flotilla clash, Kara spoke with a leading mufti in Turkey. He told the mufti that Israel conducted the operation legally and humanely and presented facts backing his claims. In addition, he said "Israel is the most humanitarian country in the Middle East and never objected to the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza," and the flotilla organizers intended to provoke Israel. He also asked the mufti to preach brotherhood between Israel and Turkey, "saying there are no winners in war."[36]

At a meeting hosted by Turkish television personality Adnan Oktar, Kara stated that flotillas must carry humanitarian aid and not weapons. He said that Israel wanted to work with Turkey to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza.[37]

Iran

Kara supports an Israeli strike against

Persian Jewish origin, who had been contacted by an Iranian nuclear scientist seeking asylum in Israel. Kara stated he would help and that the scientist was staying in a "friendly country", but there has been no word on the plan since the announcement.[39]

Following a planned visit by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the Israel-Lebanon border, Kara organized a rally in which 2,000 blue and white balloons would be released if Ahmadinejad came, stating that "the balloons represent the fact that the Jewish people have come home after 2,000 years of exile, and are not going anywhere". Kara also stated that as a non-Jew, he appreciated Israel's freedom and democracy, and that were it not for the Jewish people, the entire region would look like Iran. Kara also claims to have sent Ahmadinejad a letter in Persian, in which he expressed "the Israeli nation's desire for peace, and its willingness to defend itself".[40]

At the event, Kara criticized the Israeli government for inaction, and called Ahmadinejad "a catastrophe for the world" and said that Israel wants peace, not wars.

Persian Empire, using Lebanon as an army base.[43]

Arab-Israeli conflict and peace

Kara believes that Israel "has no one to make peace with", and that all the peace partners aim to weaken Israel. He noted that many Israelis think like Europeans and do not understand the thought process in the Middle East.

Oslo accords for giving "the criminal Palestinian leadership that was in Lebanon and Tunisia the legitimacy to be leaders in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza".[44]

In July 2010, Kara warned Israel not to be tricked by United States president Barack Obama's apparent sympathy for Israel. Kara stated that Obama "doesn't sound evil now because he needs Jewish votes and money, but I won't forget the pressure he put on Netanyahu and the stress I saw in the prime minister the last time he came back from Washington".

Palestinian take administrative control of Arab cities in the West Bank, while Israel would control defense, major cities, and broad areas in the territory.[1]

During the

2010 Israel forest fire, Kara stated he had information that the fire was "a terrorist act"—arson—and called for the perpetrators to be executed like Adolf Eichmann.[47] Some of the 41 killed in the blaze were Druze.[48]

In 2011, Kara and fellow MK

Palestinian Authority leadership.[50]

Settlements

A staunch supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Kara spoke at a ceremony marking the end of the settlement freeze. He criticizing it as not helpful to Israel or the PA

tea party protests with other Likud MKs and members. Speakers at the event called on Obama to stop pressuring Netanyahu and for the prime minister to stand his ground and uphold Jewish rights and values.[54]
In 2010, Kara attended a rally marking the end of the construction slow down in Revava, that was also attended by hundreds of Christian supporters of Israel. He welcomed the tourists saying: "I say to all the non-Jews who are here, I too am not a Jew, but in spirit I am most Jewish, I am most Zionist, and so are you! Good for you that you are here to support Israel."[55]

In 2011, however, he abstained from a vote brought by National Union MKs that would extend sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the West Bank.[56]

Support for Trump

Following the violent

Obama administration as "terrible"[57]

Calls for imposition of the death penalty

In 2010 Kara called for the imposition of the death penalty on the perpetrator of the

Tapuah Junction stabbing.[58]

2017 visit to Poland

Ayoob Kara was part of a delegation of Israeli politicians who visited Poland at the invitation of the Polish Redemptorist priest

Holocaust
.

Rydzyk and his radio station,

anti-Semitism, notably by the Anti-Defamation League[59] and the World Jewish Congress.[60]

On 26 October 2017, together with

Torun devoted to the theme of "Remembrance and Hope" and attended by then Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło.[61] The group was attacked in the Israeli media over their visit[62][63]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Lehmann, Sarah (18 August 2010). "'This Is My State. I'm An Israeli Patriot : An Interview with Druze MK Ayoub Kara". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  2. ^ Rees, Matt (5 March 2001). "Learning to Speak Up". Time. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  3. ^ a b Julian, Hana Levi (23 November 2008). "Ayoub Kara Calls to Renew Jewish-Druze Ties in Likud Renewal". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  4. ^ Marciano, Ilan (28 March 2005). "Pullout referendum bill defeated". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  5. ^ Somfalvi, Attila; Sofer, Ronny; Marciano, Ilan (11 December 2005). "MKs slam Mofaz for Likud defection". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  6. ^ Sofer, Ronny (21 November 2005). "MK Kara: Likud will grow stronger". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  7. ^ Weiss, Efrat (19 November 2008). "Tensions high in Hebron; Settlers gird for battle". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  8. ^ a b Ratzlav-Katz, Nissan (24 February 2009). "Druze MK Ayoub Kara is Seeking a Ministerial Post". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  9. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (29 December 2009). "PM: Unity has always been important". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  10. ^ Curiel, Ilana (5 May 2009). "'We'll build casino in Negev,' says development minister". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
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  17. ^ Nahmias, Roee (10 March 2009). "Report: Netanyahu rep met top Syrian official". Ynetnews. Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
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  32. ^ Government 34 Knesset
  33. ^ איוב קרא סוגר חשבון: "תקעו לי סכין בגב", YNET, 24 April 2019
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  50. ^ Benari, Elad; Yoni Kempinski (8 September 2011). "MK Kara: Talk to the Arab People – Not the PA Leadership". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  51. ^ Miskin, Maayana (26 September 2010). "Balloons, Cheers as Freeze Comes to an End". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
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  55. ^ Christians bolster Jews as settlement freeze ends Archived 19 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
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  57. ^ "Trump relationship more important than condemning Nazis, says Israeli minister". 20 August 2017.
  58. ^ "Shomron Honors Druze Soldier Murdered at Tapuach Junction". Israel National News. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  59. ^ Radio Maryja: 25 Years of Anti-Semitism - ADL website
  60. ^ Anti-Semitic Polish priest condemned by Jewish Congress leader - 9 October 2007
  61. ^ [Tylko U Nas] Y. Hilik Bar: Cóż Większego Można W Życiu Zrobić, Niż Ryzykować Życie Swoje I Swoich Bliskich, Chcąc Ratować Żydów, Ludzi Z Innego Wyznania? - Radio Maryja website
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  63. ^ Laurence Weinbaum (5 December 2017). "In Poland, an anti-Semite, a conman and a useful idiot". Times of Israel.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Committee on Drug Abuse
2003–2004 		Succeeded by
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