'Apartheid' Israel appoints first Muslim and first Sephardi woman Supreme Court Justices

“The report is completely biased and applies standards to Israel that are not applied to any other country. The emotive term “apartheid” against Israel is a preposterous slur. Israel is a vibrant democracy and a state for all its citizens, as exemplified by its diverse government and robust civil society." 

This is not the first time that an Arab-Israeli has been represented on the court, with Salim Joubran making history as the first Arab appointed in 2004. However, all previous Arab-Israelis to serve as justices have been Christian, making Kubub the first Muslim Arab to hold the role.

The only other Muslim to have served on the court was Abdel Rahman Zoabi, who briefly presided for a year in 1999.

Born in Jaffa, Kubub studied Law at Tel Aviv University before working in private practice. He was later appointed a judge in the Tel Aviv district court.

The justices appointed by the committee are due to rule on the eviction case of seven Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Jerusalem, a case which was a flashpoint in the summer of 2021.