A new General Secretary was unanimously elected by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) on Friday, June 27. The newly- head of the party, educator and journalist Adel Amer, has succeeded outgoing GS Mohammed Nafa’h – a well-known Palestinian writer. After his election, Amer addressed the Central Committee: “I thank all the comrades for the great confidence they have placed in me by electing me to this position. It is my and our responsibility to lead the party, to consistently pursue our internationalist politics, and to anchor our values and principles in both peoples of this country, in particular within the working class.”
Adel Amer, new General Secretary of the CPI (Photo: Al Ittihad)
Amer also said that the harsh reality we have been and are living in – the reality of an ongoing brutal occupation, ever-widening settlements, deepening exploitation of working people, growing racism and fascism – makes the radical change that CPI has offered for years more relevant than ever. “We adhere to our fundamental values and principles of a just peace, equality, democracy, and social justice as stages on the path to socialism. We also cling to the enduring heroic struggle of the CPI and Hadash (The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) and are committed to pursuing it until victory.”
General Secretary Amer called on all members of the CPI to close ranks in following “the principles of Marxism-Leninism and its revolutionary values, adhering to our social and political platform, and maintaining our avant-garde role in all class and political struggles.” Amer also conveyed special greetings to former General Secretary Mohammed Nafa’h, and emphasized that Nafa’h has always been and forever will remain a model of modesty, giving and, above all, struggle.
Amer, a native of Kufur Kassem, joined the Young Communist League of Israel (“Banki-Shabiba” – CPI youth movement) in 1979, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Moscow University. He has served in many party positions, including secretary of the Moscow branch, member of the Central Committee of the CPI, secretary of the Triangle District, and editorial board member of Al Ittihad, the CPI’s daily Arabic language newspaper. Amer is also a well-known activist, educator, and group leader in education for democracy.
