United with Israel speaks with Mohammed Zoabi, a loyal and outspoken citizen of Israel and cousin of Haneen Zoabi, an Israeli-Arab Knesset member.
UWI: Mohammed, could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
MZ: My name is Mohammed Zoabi, I am 17 years old, and I was born in Nazareth, Israel.
UWI: What do you do?
MZ: I am in my last year of high school.
UWI: What is one thing that you have always wished you could do?
MZ: I have always wanted to be a spokesman for my country in one form or another.
UWI: Why do you get out of bed every morning?
MZ: Because I have to go to school 🙂 I know that in order to achieve my future goals, I have to complete my education.
UWI: If you could go back in time, what is one thing in your life you would change?
MZ: I would change nothing about my life. I love my life and my mother and dear friends.
UWI: What do you do for exercise?
MZ: Actually, I don’t like sport. But I am a teenager, so I always have energy!
UWI: What are your hobbies?
MZ: I love social networking, reading about the Middle East, studying maps, cooking and listening to music.
UWI: What is your favorite thing about living in Israel?
MZ: Not having to worry about being polite. It’s the culture. I can express my opinion and people do not get offended, I enjoy the debate and engaging with other people.
UWI: What is your personal catchphrase or guiding principle?
MZ: Our national anthem, “HaTikvah,” is the foundation for who I am and what I do.
UWI: After you came out with the YouTube video condemning terrorism, your life was threatened. What was it like to have your life threatened and to have to flee your homeland?
MZ: I was not scared for myself, but I was scared that they would harm my mom. So it was difficult to leave because of this, but we both knew there was no choice. I felt very frustrated that just because I spoke out for Israel this was the situation especially as some people who are MK’s condone terrorism and their lives are protected.
UWI: What do you want to do in the future?
MZ: I am still young and first of all I must finish school and then of course I want to join the army. I would like to be a spokesperson for my country in some capacity. I don’t know where exactly – maybe a diplomat to an Arab country or the Israel ambassador to the UN, who knows? I am taking things one day at a time and anything is possible.
By: Penina Taylor, United with Israel