Pioneering, former Christian Arab MK, dies at 61
Pioneering, former Christian Arab MK, dies at 61
Nadia Hilou, the first female Christian Arab parliamentarian, known for her long-life commitment to battling poverty and inequality, passed away last week after long struggle with illness.
She served in the Labor-Meimad party from 2006-2009 and was the chairwoman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child during her tenure in the 17th Knesset.
Hilou was a member in various women's organizations and founded Manara, a foundation for the social development of women which focused on empowering female Arab leaders. She was the deputy chairwoman of Naamat Women's Organization and in recent years served as a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, specializing in issues pertaining to the Arab public.
When conveying his condolences, the Zionist Union chief Isaac Herzog to said that "We are filled with sorrow and grief as we mourn former MK Nadia Hilou, who passed before her time. Nadia served as an MK for Labor and had a reputation for fighting on behalf of the non-Jewish sectors of this country." Herzog recognized her achievements by stating that, "Nadia fought bravely for the rights and status of women in Arab society and the State of Israel. She was a leader who struggled against poverty and inequality with all her might."
Read more in Haaretz.
Read more in Times of Israel.