For first time, Arab citizen appointed to panel that
vets senior civil service nominees
By Jack Khoury
20 November 2005, Haaretz Correspondent

For first time, Arab citizen appointed to panel that vets senior civil service nominees By Jack Khoury <mailto:jkhouri@haaretz.co.il> , Haaretz Correspondent

An Arab citizen is, for the first time, serving on the Revivi Commission charged with examining and authorizing senior nominees to civil service positions.

Dr. Faisal Azayzah is the chairman of the Arab-Jewish Center and the Center for Middle East Research at the University of Haifa. He also carries out a string of public service roles, including: chairman of the directorate of community centers; head of the Daburiyya Local Council; spokesman for the Israeli Arab Monitoring Committee; founding member of Sikkuy, the Association for the Advancement of Civil Equality in Israel; member of the board of directors of the Abraham Fund; and a member of the New Israel Fund.

Azayzah expressed satisfaction at his appointment to the Revivi Commission and said he does not intend to serve as a "rubber stamp" but rather to positively influence the commission's work.

"This is, for me, an expression of faith in my past professional management," Azayzah said. "[My appointment] is also an important decision for the Arab sector... I hope that with this nomination I will contribute to the advancement of the integration of Arab citizens into senior positions in government corporations."

The Revivi Commission vets nominees to senior public service positions and has the legal authority to approve or disqualify their candidacies.

The commission is responsible for approving or disqualifying the members of 105 government corporations and the directors-general of government ministries.