Rafik Haj-Ihiyeh; Ex-Mayor, Leader of Israel’s Arabs

Rafik Haj-Ihiyeh, 51, recent mayor of the Israeli Arab city Taibeh and colorful leader of Israel’s minority Arabs. Haj-Ihiyeh served as mayor from 1989 to 1998 and then spent a year in the Israeli parliament, representing the Labor party. A powerful speaker with a deep voice, Haj-Ihiyeh drew fire for strong statements denouncing discrimination against Israeli Arabs, who make up about one-sixth of Israel’s population. He often angered leaders of his own party and was not chosen to run for another term in parliament. Haj-Ihiyeh is credited with raising Taibeh out of its doldrums, stimulating its economy and drawing attention to the city. But he was unable to counter a growing wave of crime in the city, and was blamed for massive deficit spending that saddled Taibeh with a huge debt. A dedicated soccer fan, Haj-Ihiyeh followed his city’s team to games wherever they played and recently was convicted of attacking a police officer in the heat of a soccer match. On Sunday in Kfar Saba, Israel, of a heart attack.