Education
Zahalka studied pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, earning a Bachelor, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, and then worked as a pharmacist.
Zahalka studied pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, earning a Bachelor, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, and then worked as a pharmacist.
He is a Balad party leader. His doctoral thesis was on the physiological properties of hashish. He was first elected to the Knesset in 2003 on Balad"s list, and was re-elected in 2006.
After Azmi Bishara fled the country, Zahalka became Balad"s leader.
Zahalka describes Israel"s political discourse about the Palestinians as revolving around the ideas of separation, apartheid, and transfer. He argues that an apartheid system is already in place, with the West Bank and Gaza Strip separated into "cantons," and Palestinians required to carry permits to travel between them.
Zahalka is an active member of Knesset, and is a member of the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee. The Committee on Drug Abuse. And the Economic Affairs Committee in the 18th Knesset.