Democratic National Alliance (DNA; Al-Tajammu? Al-Dimuqrati Al-Watani)
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ALLIANCE (DNA; al-Tajammuʿ al-Dimuqrati al-Watani)
An Israeli Arab political group, the Democratic National Alliance was created in February 1999, in anticipation of the upcoming (May) parliamentary elections, piggybacked with the election of the prime minister—an election in which, for the first time, an Arab, Azmi Bishara, founder of the Democratic National Alliance, was a candidate. The creation of the DNA is to be seen in the context of the demands of the Israeli Arabs. Just before the elections, Bishara withdrew and asked his supporters to support the candidacy of Ehud Barak, the leader of the Labor Party. On 18 May 1999, following the elections, the Democratic National Alliance found itself with two seats in the Knesset, which were taken by Azmi Bishara and Ahmad Tibi.
SEE ALSO Bishara, Azmi;Tibi, Ahmad.