Arab women continue to break barriers and advance in the Israeli workforce – with more attending higher education and holding leadership positions than ever before. This year, several Arab women were featured on two prominent lists that celebrate female empowerment and heroism: Achareya: Heroines of the Year by Yediot Aharonot and Globes’ Top 50 Influential Women of 2025. Two Arab citizens were also featured on Globes’ 40 under 40 list. These honors reflect their remarkable contributions across various sectors, including advocacy, education, healthcare, and community empowerment.
For the second consecutive year, Yediot Aharonot’s “Achareya: The Heroines of the Nation” honors 12 women for their resilience and leadership since October 7. Among the honorees are two Arab women—Ola Najami and Nasreen Yosef who have demonstrated exceptional courage and determination to help their communities during times of crisis.
Ola Najami, Director of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva, has spent over two decades advocating for Arab women’s rights and promoting initiatives to combat violence. “From Nazareth, today I run the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace in Givat Haviva, alongside other women who were heroes before me. It started with changing the local government election law, a crucial step in reshaping local governance to include more women. We formed a coalition of Arab and Jewish women to push for this change, and we succeeded. Did it change everything? No. But through this joint effort, I realized that advancing rights for Arab women and the Arab minority in Israel requires building common spaces, circles, and partnerships. I believe that the advancement of Arab society is closely connected to this,” shares Ola in her interview for Ahareya.
Nasreen Yosef, a Druze woman from Yated in southern Israel, demonstrated extraordinary courage on October 7th when she assisted her local security forces in capturing terrorists who had infiltrated her community. Reflecting on the concept of being a “hero,” Nasreen shared, “Being a hero means standing up, making your voice heard, and believing in yourself. You deserve to be heard, you are brave, and you are capable of achieving great things. Pursue your dreams and never stop striving.”
In addition to the Achareya project, four other Arab citizens were included in Globes’ Top 50 Influential Women of 2025. This list highlights women whose leadership and achievements have made a profound impact on Israel’s economic, academic, and social landscapes. Among the honorees were Prof. Mouna Maroun, Dr. Marian Tehawkho, Dr. Safa Abu Rabia, and Dr. Enaya Banna.
Prof. Mouna Maroun is the first Arab woman in Israel to be appointed Rector of the University of Haifa. Hailing from the village of Isfiya, Mouna’s journey to leadership has been nothing short of groundbreaking. She is the first Arab woman professor of neuroscience and the first Arab woman to serve as Vice President and Dean of Research and Development. She has also previously served on the Council for Higher Education’s Planning and Budgeting Committee, where she chaired the council’s steering committee on access to higher education for Arab students in Israel. Her research in neuroscience, particularly in post-traumatic stress, has not only contributed to the field but also brings hope for a future treatment that could alleviate the pain of trauma, especially for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Full feature on Prof. Mouna Maroun in Globes HERE.
Dr. Marian Tehawkho, who heads the Center for Economic Policy of the Israeli Arab Population at Reichman University, has long been a key advocate for integrating Arabs into the Israeli labor market. She’s worked to improve employment opportunities and has been instrumental in shaping policies that support the social mobility of Arab citizens in Israel. Tehawkho emphasizes the importance of education and practical programs to bridge employment gaps, highlighting the pivotal role of Arab society in Israel’s future economic development. Born in the village of Rehaniya, one of Israel’s two Circassian villages, she is a first-generation college graduate in her family.
Dr. Safa Abu Rabiya, Program Director for Arab Community at the Yad Hanadiv Rothschild Foundation, has dedicated her career to empowering the next generation of Arab leaders through equal access to education and employment. A specialist in Bedouin society, she completed her doctoral thesis on Arab-Bedouin history at Ben-Gurion University and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University. At the Globes Conference, she highlighted a critical issue: “The central problem of Arab society is the dramatic rise of young people, especially men, who do not integrate into the Israeli economy.”
Dr. Enaya Banna, founder of the Al-Bayader Association, is a prominent advocate for economic and social development in Arab communities. At Al-Bayader, she spearheads initiatives that address the community’s needs in partnerships with government ministries in planning, construction, environmental education, energy, and economic development.
A landscape architect and urban planner by profession, Dr. Banna previously worked as a planner and researcher at the Arab Center for Alternative Planning, where she led urban renewal projects in Arab communities and served as CEO until 2023. She also currently serves as an engineer on the local and regional planning committee for the Wadi Ara area, overseeing two municipalities and five local councils. In addition, Dr. Banna lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Urban Clinic.
Two other Arab citizens were included in Globes’ 40 under 40 of 2025. Among the honorees were Att. Jasmin Abufoul and Ayat Rahal.
Att. Jasmin Abufoul is an attorney at the Haifa District Attorney’s Office (Civil Division) and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Israel Airports Authority. At 29, she was appointed as a director and Chair of the Audit Committee at the Israel Airports Authority, representing the Ministry of Justice. She joined the board as the organization was emerging from the COVID-19 crisis. Today, Abufoul represents the Israel Land Authority in complex real estate cases and serves as legal counsel for the Custodian of Absentee Property. She also represents the Wage Commissioner in labor law cases, the Ministry of Interior in lawsuits concerning local authority appointments, and the state in Sharia courts when the Attorney General’s position is required.
Ayat Rahel, Director of the Culture and Community Division at the Ministry of Culture, has dedicated her career to driving change and increasing Arab representation in Israel’s public sector. “Diverse representation in civil service is essential to ensuring relevant services for all Israeli citizens. That’s why I see myself continuing on this path, advancing to positions of influence, and strengthening public trust by providing the services people need.” Today, Ayat focuses on making cultural resources accessible to Arab society, particularly Negev Bedouin communities. “My goal is for people to enjoy culture without having to travel far. This is a long-term strategic effort tailored to the needs of Arab society,” she tells Globes. Under her leadership, the ministry has appointed full-time Arab managers for cultural initiatives, ensuring these communities play a direct role in shaping their cultural landscape. She is also spearheading the establishment of the first museum for Arab culture and art and an acting school in Rahat, marking a significant shift in cultural infrastructure.
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