Maronite Catholic Arab appointed to Israeli Supreme Court

Published: 2004-05-19

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- A Maronite Catholic Arab was among four new judges appointed to the Israeli Supreme Court in mid-May. Salim Jubran, 57, was completing a one-year temporary appointment to the bench. He is the first Arab to overcome the temporary-appointment hurdle to become a permanent member of the Supreme Court. "We are very proud to see a member of our community accede to such a high (post) because of his achievements," said Maronite Archbishop Paul Nabil Sayah of Haifa and the Holy Land. "We are also proud to be part of such a high service for the government. We don't want our community to be marginal, and this is an opportunity for one of our members to be in service of the state in such a sensitive position. He is the first Israeli Arab to reach such a position," the archbishop said. Jubran, a native of the northern port city of Haifa, is known as an expert in criminal law with tough stands against sex- and drug-related offenses.

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