From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 15, 2024
Salim Joubran, first Arab Israeli Supreme Court Judge, dies at 76
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Salim Joubran, the first Arab Israeli Supreme Court Judge, has died at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer.
A Christian who grew up in the north of Israel, Joubran was the first Arab Israeli to be appointed to a permanent seat on the Supreme Court, eventually serving as deputy president of the court. Jubran retired in 2017.
He was also the first Arab Israeli to chair the Central Elections Committee.
In March 2012, Joubran was criticized by some on the right when he refrained from singing the national anthem during a swearing-in ceremony for new Supreme Court justices. His position was supported by his predecessor in the post, fellow justice Elyakim Rubinstein, who wrote in a letter that while non-Jewish citizens should show respect for the anthem by standing, they should not feel obligated to sing words that do not speak to their hearts.
The Times of Israel Community.