The Israeli committee entrusted with the appointment of Qadis, magistrates at Muslim Shari'a religious courts, made history on Tuesday when it appointed the first female Qadi in history.
Khatib is from the town of Tamra, located in the lower Galilee region.
The committee members, bsides Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, are Minister of Religions David Azoulay, President of the Sharia Court Abd Al Hakim Samara, Director of Shari'a Courts Iyad Zahalka, MK Esawi Frej (Meretz), MK Yoav Ben Tzur (Shas), and representatives of the Israeli Bar Association Attorneys Osama Saadi and Rasmi Zahalka. "It's great news for Arab women and for the Arab society as a whole".
In Israel, family law - divorce, marriage, endowments - falls under the jurisdiction of religious courts, and separate systems exist for the country's different creeds. "I am excited about this appointment and hope that it's only the first swallow that will usher in the spring of many more women Qadis". The move has been hailed as historic by Israeli officials.
The Abraham Fund, an Israeli nonprofit working on Arab-Jewish coexistence issues, said in a statement: "The appointment of a Muslim woman to the important role is a historic step that signals Arab women to aspire to leadership positions".
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Zahalka credited Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked with pushing hard for a female Sharia Court judge and for providing additional funding for and additional judicial position.
There are not many female qadis around the world.
The female lawyer is expected to be sworn in by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in the coming weeks. Two women serve as sharia judges in the neighboring Palestinian Authority.
In 1961, the Knesset formally brought the Sharia Courts to Israel's system, and they are formally connected to the Justice Ministry.
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