Arab women's new face in the Knesset
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Aida Touma-Sliman, social activist and soon to be Knesset member, explains her long-standing political career in the Arab sector, battling violence against women and promoting coexistence.
Among Arab Israelis, Aida Touma-Sliman is a symbol of an independent, strong and assertive woman. For many Israelis, however, she was quite an anonymous figure until she was named second on the Hadash Party slate and fifth on the joint Arab slate.
Touma-Sliman's admirers, who have followed her active and intensive career over the years, including her failed attempts to garner a spot on the Hadash Knesset list, sighed with satisfaction after the March 17 elections. At last, Touma-Sliman will be part of the Arab-Jewish Joint List, which garnered 13 Knesset seats. They are convinced that she will make an active and constructive parliamentarian.
Touma-Sliman, born in Nazareth, is a familiar face within the Arab sector and other sectors as well, due to her long-standing public activity. In 1992, she founded the Arab-feminist association Women Against Violence, serving as its CEO. She was also the first woman on the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel and the chief editor of the daily Al Ittihad. Political and social engagement have been part of her life ever since her high school years.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, she candidly talks about what she has done so far and has yet to do. She also touches on the attitude of Jewish society toward Arab Israelis, and particularly toward Arab women.
