Adalah Staff and Board
Staff Profiles | Board of Directors | Audit Control Committee
Staff Profiles
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Hassan Jabareen, Advocate | Founder of Adalah and General Director
Hassan Jabareen is the founder of Adalah. He has extensive experience in litigating landmark cases before the Israeli Supreme Court on behalf of Palestinians in Israel and in the OPT. Major cases include representing Arab political parties and leaders in elections disqualification cases and in political, criminal cases; and challenging the Citizenship Law which prohibits family unification between Palestinians from the OPT and Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the no-compensation law which banned Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza from obtaining damages from Israeli security forces. Further he led the legal team in the representation of the 13 bereaved families of the October 2000 killings and Arab political leaders before the Or Commission of Inquiry. He also appeared numerous times before UN human rights bodies. He received the "Peter Cicchino Award" for excellency in public interest lawyering from the American University law school in Washington DC and he was chosen in 2005 as a "Yale World Fellow". Under his leadership, Adalah received UN ECOSOC status, the Civil Rights Award of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), and the award for NGO excellency and good governance from the Welfare Association. He has been teaching in Israeli law schools since 1998 as an Adjunct Lecturer on the legal status of Palestinian citizens of Israel. He has also published academic articles on cause-lawyering and the constitutional status of the Palestinians.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT: STAFF ATTORNEYS
Suhad Bishara, Advocate | Senior Attorney
Specializes in land and planning rights, working with Adalah since 2001. Received an L.L.B. in Law from the Faculty of Law, Hebrew University in 1993, and an L.L.M. in Public Service Law from New York University School of Law (USA) in 2001. Former partner in private law firm specializing in urban planning from 1996-2001, and served as a legal consultant to the Association of Forty, the Arab Steering Committee for Urban Planning in the Galilee Society (RA), and the Hotline for Battered Women. Former Chairperson of the Committee for Educational Guidance for Arab Students and a founder of Kayan – A Feminist Organization.
Orna Kohn, Advocate| Senior Attorney
Working with Adalah since 1998 and served as Acting General Director in 2005-2006. Received an L.L.B. in Law from Haifa University in 1995, and is a Candidate for an L.L.M in International Human Rights from the Transitional Justice Institute at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, expected 2008. Worked from 1995-1998 with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, as a stagiaire and then as a staff attorney in charge of West Bank and Gaza cases. Worked as an Assistant Instructor at the Faculty of Law of Haifa University for a year-long course on Constitutional and Administrative Law.
Abeer Baker, Advocate
Working with Adalah since 2000. Received an L.L.B. from Haifa University in 2001 and an award
for community activism from the Faculty of Law. Abeer serves as a legal staff member and the coordinator of the Criminal Justice Project at Adalah. In addition to her work in adalah she serves as the Legal Advisor & Instructor of the Prisoners' Rights and Re-Entry Clinic in the Law Faculty of Haifa University. L.L.M. student in Public and International law at Tel-Aviv & North Western University in the United States (2008). Academic instructor for the Social Security course at the Open University in Israel (2007); Assistant instructor, for the Public Law course at Haifa University Hebrew University (2006-2007) and Tel Aviv University for a course on The Legal Status of Arab Minority in Israel (2003-2005). Worked with the Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) as a human rights lecturer in Arab Schools, and as a project coordinator of the Center for Social Rights, Community Development Association in Acre.
Adel Badeer, Advocate| on vacation until August 2010
Specializes in citizenship rights, religious rights, and land and planning rights, working with Adalah since 2003. Graduated top of the class with an L.L.B in Law from Sha'arei Mishpat College of Law in 2003, and a Candidate for an L.L.M in Law, Politics and Society at the Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University. Received a scholarship from the Scholarship Fund of the Colleges and Universities Committee of the Israeli Bar Association for achievement in legal studies and voluntary work in 2002.
Sawsan Zaher, Advocate
Specializes in social and economic rights, working with Adalah since 2005. Received an L.L.B. in Law from the College of Management, School of Law in 1997, and an L.L.M. in International Legal Studies with a concentration on human rights and gender from the American University, Washington College of Law (USA) in 2004. Former solo practitioner in a private law firm specializing in civil law during 2001-2003. Established and coordinated the legal department for Arab women's rights in Kayan – Feminist Organization during 2004-2005. Currently, a Board member of Kayan and an active member of other human rights organizations.
Fatmeh El-`Ajou, Advocate
Specializes in international humanitarian law, working with Adalah since 2007. Received an L.L.B. in Law from Bar Ilan University and completed her studies for an L.L.M. in International Human Rights Law, Essex University (England) (Recipient of the Chevening Scholarship of the British Council) during 2005-2006. Worked for five years at a private civil-commercial law firm, and for two years with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, as a staff attorney in charge of the protection and promotion of human rights in the OPTs.
Alaa Mahajneh, Advocate
Received an L.L.B. degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he worked as a teaching assistant and a research assistant. Received an L.L.M. from the University of Virginia, U.S. Worked at a private law firm specializing in real estate, administrative law and torts. Has worked with Adalah since 2007.
Haneen Naamnih, Advocate
in Adalah since March 2006. Received an L.L.B. from University of Haifa. Worked in 2006 as a teaching assistant to a law professor and is currently a member of the human rights and social change legal clinic at the University of Haifa.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT – SUPPORTING STAFF
Hana Hamdan | Urban and Regional Planner
Working with Adalah since 2004. Received an B.A in History of the Middle East from Haifa University in 1989, and an M.Sc in Urban and Regional Planning from the Technion in 2002. Candidate for a Ph.D. in the Department of Geography and Human Environment at Tel Aviv University. Worked in a private office specializing in urban planning from 1998-2001, and as a researcher at the Technion’s Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Center for Urban & Regional Studies and at Ben-Gurion University in 2001-2002.
Salem Abu-Medeghem | Naqab Field Researcher and Office Coordinator
Received an L.L.B. from the Ramat Gan College of Law. Received a Certificate in Mediation in 2004. Worked as the Secretary and Coordinator for the al-Jabha political party in the Naqab, from 1992 to 1997. Has worked with Adalah since 2000.
Rawya Handaklo | Law student
A fourth year law student at the Natanya Academic Collage. Worked as a law trainer in a private law office. Has been working as a law student trainee with Adalah since September 2009.
Fadi Khoury | Law student
A third year law student at the University of Haifa. Works as a research assistant for Dr. Raychman at the Faculty of Law, the University of Haifa University, is a member of the Legal Clinics on Arab Minority Rights and Human Rights in Society, and an Editorial Associate for the Law Journal, "Law and Governance." Has been working as a law student trainee with Adalah since August 2009
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Rina Jabareen, Esq. | Co-Founder of Adalah and International Advocacy Director
Received a B.A. in History from New York University (USA) in 1987; and a J.D. (Juris Doctor) in 1991 and an L.L.M. in Advocacy in 2001 from Georgetown University Law Center (USA). Worked for four years as a public defender in New York and Washington, D.C., and as a clinic supervisor for law students with Georgetown’s Criminal Justice Clinic. Worked for five years on resource development and international human rights advocacy with the Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA), the Galilee Society, and the Working Group on the Status of Palestinian Women in Israel. Schell Fellow, Yale Law School, 2005-2006.
Eva Mousa | Public Relations & Media Director
Received a B.A. and M.A. in Communications and Journalism from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as a B.A. in English Linguistics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ms Mousa has worked for several NGOs in Israel, including I’lam, The Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement in media and public relations coordination positions. She was also the Media Coordinator of Adalah for three years from 2002 to 2004.
Salah Muhsin | Media Coordinator
Working with Adalah since 2007. Received a B.A. in sociology and anthropology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2005. Worked as a field worker in the Center for Community Advocacy, and worked for four years as the parliamentary assistant of MK Dr. Jamal Zahalqa. A political and social activist in various associations.
Ran Shapira | Hebrew Editor
Working with Adalah since 2005. Also works as a writer and editor for Ha’aretz newspaper since 1990. Received a B.A. in History and Philosophy, Tel Aviv University in 1998.
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Fathiyya Hussein | Administrative Director
Working with Adalah since 2000. Worked as an administrator for ten years with Arab NGOs in Israel and as an executive secretary for a private lawyer specializing in human rights in Jerusalem. Received a certificate in Senior Management in Social Change Organizations from Haifa University, External Studies, Dept. for Business Management in 2003 and has attended several additional courses on NGO management.
Ghassan Kharouba | Financel Director
Working with Adalah since 2008. Received B.A in Accounting and Economics from the Hebrew University. Ghassan is a Certified Public Accountant and runs a private accounting business since 1994. Has worked as a senior manager of an auditing office since 1996. Has vast experience in auditing financial reports for public institutions and providing financial consulting to NGOs. Founding member of the Hewar Association for Alternative Education, in which he has served as a board member and chairperson of the financial committee since its establishment in 2001.
Christine Nasrallah | Administrative Assistant
Working with Adalah since 2000. Received a certificate in administration and management from the High Institute for Administration and Vocational In-service Training certified by the Labor Ministry in 2002, and a certificate in second degree accounting from the Management College in Haifa certified by the Labor Ministry in 2006. Received an advanced accountancy degree at the Management College and from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel from 2007.
Sawsan Daoud | Secretary
Has a certificate in Administration and Accounting. Works as an administrative secretary at the Hewar Association for Alternative Education in Haifa. Worked as a secretary at the Association of Forty for several years. Has worked with Adalah since May 2009.
Board of Directors
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Dr. Mahmoud Yazbak | Chairperson
Received a B.A. in General and Middle East History in 1978, an M.A. in Middle East History in 1992 from Haifa University, and a Ph.D. in Middle East Studies from Hebrew University in 1998. Completed post-doctorate research at Oxford University (England) in 1999. Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities, Middle East History, Haifa University, specializing in the social and political history of 19th and 20th century Palestine; historiography of Israel/Palestine; and Palestinian women (since 1993). Former spokesperson of the Committee for the Bereaved Families (October 2000). Joined Adalah’s Board in 2004.
Suhad Aga, Advocate
Received an L.L.B. in Law from the Faculty of Law, Haifa University in 1996. Criminal defense lawyer, Public Defender’s Office in Haifa. Prior posts include work with Mossawa: The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel during 1997-1998, and the Center for Economic and Social Rights in Jerusalem during 1998-2000. Co-founder and current member of Assiwar - The Arab Feminist Movement in Support of Victims of Sexual Assaults. Joined Adalah’s Board in 2004.
Prof. Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia
Received a B.S.W. in 1980 and an M.S.W. in 1985, in social work from the Hebrew University, and a Ph.D. in 1991 in social work from the University of Minnesota (USA). Associate Professor at the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University. Published extensively on family violence, with a special emphasis on battered women and abused children, community violence, and political violence and their effects on children and their families. Formerly taught at Bethlehem University. Contributed extensively to training professional and volunteer teams working with women and children victims of violence and abuse. Volunteers in and serves as a board member in several nonprofit organizations. Joined Adalah’s Board in 2005.
Dr. Hala Khoury-Bisharat, Advocate
Received an L.L.B. in Law in 1993 and an L.L.M. in Law (cum laude) in 1998 from the Faculty of Law, Hebrew University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford (England). Worked as a staff attorney with HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual for three years, as an attorney in a private law firm specialized in medical malpractice for three years, and as an editor of Adalah’s Review in 2005. Adjunct lecturer in international criminal law in the Faculties of Law, Haifa University, Tel Aviv University, and the College of Management, School of Law from 2005. Joined Adalah’s Board in 2007.
Fuad Sultany, Advocate
Received an L.L.M. from the Faculty of Law, University of Lodz (Poland). Runs a private law office in al-Tira since 1987, specializing in defending political prisoners and in land cases, with a focus on the OPT. Prominently contributed to defending land owners in the Triangle region whose lands were confiscated to build the Trans-Israel highway. Worked as an attorney with Ansar al-Sajeen (Prisoners Friends’ Association) for ten years. Active in various local and regional political, cultural, and educational activities. Served on Adalah’s Board during 2001 to 2004, and rejoined the Board in 2007.
Dr. Khaled Abu Asbeh
Director of the Masar Institute for Educational Research, Planning and Counseling. received BA and MA degrees in education and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Anthropology. Lecturer in the Politics and Public Administration Program at the Hebrew University; Education lecturer at the Beit Berl College, and associate researcher at the Van Leer Institute. Has published numerous books and studies on the subject of education. Served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Sikkuy for eight years and is an active member on the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Education for the past 15 years. Joined Adalah’s board in 2009.
Dr. Mas’ud Hamdan
Received B.A in Sociology and Comparative Literature in 1986, and an M.A (1996) and Ph.D. (1999) in Comparative Literature and Drama from Haifa University. Writer, theatre critic, and lecturer in the Arabic Language and Literature Department at Haifa University. Was a lecturer in the Arabic Literature Department of the Hebrew University, the Gordon College, and the Open University. Published many articles and research papers on theater and comparative literature, as well as a book entitled, “The Bitter Cup and the Holy Rain: Politics, Poetics and Protest in the Arab Theatre”. Currently the manager of Al-Niqab Theater in Isifiya, where he has produced many plays, including “The Hole of the Spout”, “Horus and Ahriman” and “The Command”. Joined Adalah’s Board in 2009.
Audit Control Committee
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Waeil Rabi, Advocate & Notary | Audit Control Committee Member
Received an L.L.B in Law in 1990 and an L.L.M in Law in 2005 from the Faculty of Law, Bar Ilan University. Runs a private law office since 1992 specializing in civil litigation (commercial law and torts), land, planning and building, and local law. Represented about 150 families against the Israel Land Administration in cases relating to tenders for allocating land plots. Member of three Israeli Bar Association committees: the local committee in Kfar Saba, the committee of Courts Presidency, and the committee of Judges-Lawyers Relationships. Engaged in various activities for improving community life in his village and in Israel in general. Joined Adalah`s Audit Control Committee in 2006.
Jeries Rawashdeh, Advocate | Audit Control Committee Member
Received an L.L.B from the Academic College in Netanya in 2006 and is currently studying for an L.L.M at Haifa University. Works as the private and academic assistant to former judge Hanoch Areiel in Academic College in Natanya. Participated in all Adalah’s law students conferences. Joined Adalah’s Audit Control Committee in 10/2008.
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UN Special Consultative Status, ECOSOC
Member, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network 
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