Birth Date: | 12 February 1954 |
Birth Place: | Beit Jann, Israel |
Suboffice1: | Likud |
Office1: | Faction represented in the Knesset |
Subterm1: | 2003–2005 |
Suboffice2: | Kadima |
Subterm2: | 2005–2012 |
Suboffice3: | HaTnuah |
Subterm3: | 2012–2013 |
Native Name: | مجلي وهبي (Druze Arabic) |
Native Name Lang: | ar |
Children: | 4, including Tomer Wahaba |
Majalli Wahabi (ar|مجلي وهبي, he|מגלי והבה, also transcripted as Majalli Wahbee or Majli Wahaba; born 12 February 1954) is a Druze-Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud, Kadima and HaTnuah between 2003 and 2013.[1] He briefly assumed the position of Acting President due to the President of Israel Mr. Moshe Katsav's leave of absence as well as due to Interim and Acting President of Israel Mrs. Dalia Itzik's diplomatic trips abroad that took place during 2007; making him the first non-Jew and the first Druze to be Israel's acting head of state; although assuming it for a mere few short periods during that year.
Wahabi is married and has 4 children; among them is his son Tomer Wahaba who served as the first Druze member of the Israeli Army Radio (GaLaTZ).[2]
His public activities include:
On 27 February 2007, while then president Moshe Katzav was on leave of absence due to an indictment for rape charges, and interim president Dalia Itzik was on a trip abroad, Wahabi, who had previously served as interim speaker of the Knesset, was named acting president of Israel for two weeks, becoming the first non-Jew and Druze to be Israel's acting head of state.[3]
Wahabi condemned a website that "incited against Israeli soldiers" as war criminals and published their personal information and called for the punishment of those responsible.[4]
Shortly before the 2013 elections Wahabi joined the new Hatnuah party, and was placed twelfth on its list.[5] He lost his seat as the party won only six seats.