Cabinet appoints highest ranking Arab female in civil service

The Israeli cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved the appointment of an Arab woman, attorney Mariam Kabha, as national commissioner for equal employment opportunities within the Economy Ministry.

“This is an appointment with high symbolic and practical importance. We have two major missions in the field of employment – to increase employment among Arab women and ultra-Orthodox men. This appointment will serve to achieve a national goal. Mariam Kabha is capable and deserving, and I wish her success,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sunday’s appointment makes Kabha the highest ranking Arab female in the civil service, business website Globes reported.

A search committee headed by Amit Lang, director general of the Economy Ministry, had been searching for a replacement for attorney Tziona Koenig-Yair, who served in the position for the past seven years.

Tziona Koenig-Yair (Facebook)

Kabha was chosen for the position from among 60 candidates.

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Prior to the appointment, Kabha held the position of Haifa and Northern District commissioner for equal employment opportunities. She also previously worked as Economy Ministry representative director on the board of Ashra – The Israel Foreign Trade Risks insurance Corporation Ltd., as a member of the steering committee for the Collective Impact initiative on the employment of Israeli Arabs, and as a member of the Haifa municipality forum on advancing the employment of women.

Kabha graduated from the faculty of law at the University of Haifa.