Dr. Iyad Zahalka is the Qadi of the Sharia Court of Appeals since 2017 and serves as a lecturer at various universities and academic institutions since 2013. He completed his doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he focused on the laws of Muslim minorities (fiqh al-aqliyyat) and its implications for Muslims in Israel. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University and holds a master’s degree with distinction from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Dr. Zahalka served as Qadi in the Sharia Courts of Haifa and Jerusalem (2009–2017), as Director of the Sharia Courts in Israel (2005–2009, 2016–2025), and as Deputy and Acting Director (2003–2005). He also practiced law in a private law firm between 1995 and 2003. Dr. Zahalka has received multiple awards and scholarships for his academic achievements and has published five books, along with numerous articles in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.