Knesset Member Mohammad Barakeh was elected for a second consecutive term as chairman of the Hadash
party on Saturday. Barakeh defeated attorney Walid Al-Fahum by a landslide with 75 percent of the votes.
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"Today we witnessed a demonstration of democracy that is rare in our part of the world. I believe that with the next Knesset elections our power can only grow," said Barakeh in an interview with Ynet. The council also elected 55 committee members and secretaries.
Following the impressively large convention of the Hadash committee last December, on Saturday 750 council members convened to choose the new leader of their party. Barakeh went up against Al-Fahum, one of the senior activists and a former secretary of Hadash.
Barakeh said that although his opponent is a worthy man, he was the "obvious choice".
The council members also chose Barakeh's three deputies: Tamar Gozansky, Priest Shahada Shahada, and Dr. Zohir Tibi. Fifty-five party members were also chosen, among them Knesset Members Hanna Swaid and Dov Khenin.
"Today we have demonstrated the correct way to handle democracy. We will continue on this path, and to be the party with the largest record of working towards peace and social justice," MK Barakeh said.
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