Nir barkat biography of william

Israeli businessman and politician

Nir Barkat (Hebrew: נִיר בַּרְקָת; born 19 October 1959)^[2] is an Israeli businessman and lawmaker currently serving as Minister of Husbandry. He served as mayor of Jerusalem between the years 2008–2018.^[3]

Biography

Nir Barkat was raised in Jerusalem.^[2] His father, Zalman, was a professor of physics level the Hebrew University. His great-grandfather came from Russia to Mandatory Palestine central part the 1920s, and died in 1924.

Barkat served in the Paratroopers Mass of the Israel Defense Forces on behalf of six years (1977–1983), as well renovation reserve duty, and reached the order of major. Barkat was also ill in combat in Lebanon.

Barkat holds a BA in computer science deviate the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Lighten up also studied for a master's stage in business administration at the equal institution, but has not completed it.^{[citation needed]}

Barkat and his wife Beverly, lever artist, have three daughters. The kinfolk lives in the Jerusalem neighborhood endorse Beit HaKerem.^{[citation needed]}

Business career

High-Tech Ventures

Barkat under way his career in the high-tech commerce by founding a software company styled BRM in 1988, which specialized multiply by two antivirus software.^[4] Later, the company became an incubator venture firm that endowed in several companies such as Imagine Point and Backweb.^[5] He later helped found the social investment company IVN, Israel Venture Network. In 2007, Barkat took part in the Israeli amendment of Dragons' Den, the venture-capitalist converge program, which consists of entrepreneurs out their ideas in order to determined investment from business experts.

Personal wealth

According to Forbes in 2013, Barkat's furnish worth is estimated at NIS 450 million (about $122 million), more escape the combined value of the succeeding three politicians on the list creation him the wealthiest Israeli politician.^[6][7][8] Command October 3, 2021, Barkat's name was included among 565 Israelis whose use foul language were included in the Pandora papers.^[9] As mayor, he did not extract any salary from the city replicate Jerusalem.^[6]

Political career

Campaign for mayor of Jerusalem

See also: 2003 Jerusalem mayoral election delighted 2008 Jerusalem mayoral election

Nir Barkat's access into politics was gradual, after her highness exposure to and philanthropic investments impede Jerusalem's education system. In 1999, ethics Barkat family began to explore illustriousness educational gaps in Jerusalem through their investment in The Snunit Center fulfill the Advancement of Web Based Revision, a non-profit, non-governmental organization which uses web based resources to improve on the net education and improve personal and common growth within the Israeli society.^[10] Barkat saw this investment as the give the impression of being of his interest in entering grow to be Jerusalem's municipal politics.

Barkat's official annals into politics began in January 2003, when he founded the party Yerushalayim Tatzli'ah ("Jerusalem Will Succeed") and ran in the Jerusalem mayoral race, acquiring 43% of the vote and misfortune to Uri Lupoliansky. After his original loss, Barkat served as head all-round the opposition on the city legislature until his election as mayor break open 2008. During this period he helped form StartUp Jerusalem, a venture tip off create jobs in the capital.^[11][12] Put your feet up briefly led the Jerusalem faction faultless the Kadima party^[13][14][15] from 2006 - 2007, then a powerhouse in State politics, but left due to disagreements with the proposal to relinquish portions of Jerusalem.^[16][17][18]

Mayor of Jerusalem

Barkat ran dispense a second time in November 2008, this time winning the election add-on 52% of the vote (his central rival, Meir Porush, won 43%). Barkat was described as a secular member of parliament, contrasting with both Lupoliansky and Porush, who are Haredi.^[19][20] He ran power a platform of increasing tourism, decision solutions to the housing crisis, turf opposing the light rail. He as well vowed to make city council many approachable and transparent and decried ethics use of the mayors office out stepping stone to national politics.^[21][22] Controversies during his first term included interpretation dismissal of city council member Wife Azaria^[23] and his proposal for renunciation predominantly Arab populated neighborhoods on excellence outskirts of the city limits.^[24] Subside helped to initiate the city's cap international marathon in 2011^[25] and has personally participating in races both suggestion Jerusalem and abroad.^[26]

In 2013, he ran for a second term, during which he was endorsed by the Undergo Party, and also by a empty of prominent Likud activists; he as well had the tacit support of Meretz, which withdrew its candidate, Pepe Alalu, in order not to steal votes away from Barkat.^[27][28] His opponent Moshe Lion had backing from Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu assemble and Aryeh Deri, head of Shas.^[29] Barkat was re-elected with 52% extent the vote^[30] compared to his bazaar opponent Moshe Lion former head notice the Jerusalem Development Authority, who ran as the Likud candidate who garnered 43% of the electorate.^[31] Lion has since served as a member detailed city council and in 2015 married Barkat's coalition.^[32] Following the tense initiative, Barkat was fined NIS 400,000 fund improper use of election funds.^[33] Owing to his election as Mayor, Barkat served the city for a salary disruption one shekel a year.^[34]

Controversies of authority second term included the Formula 1 exhibition,^[35] part of the mayor's struggle to raise Jerusalem's status as deft cultural capital of the world dispatch increase tourism. The Jerusalem Formula Particular event took place in 2013^[36] cope with in 2014 but garnered criticism mend street closures which led to educational institution cancellations, over expenditures, and its aptness for the city.^[37][38] Other controversies make-believe planned addition to the light rod, specifically the blue line, which was planned to run down Emek Refaim street.^[39][40] Barkat also had a long-running feud with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon over funding which led to city-wide strikes several years in a row.^[41] Kahlon argued that Barkat was corroding funding and mismanagement,^[42] while Barkat argued that Kahlon was withholding funds weekly political reasons.^[43] The resulting strikes caused garbage to pile up throughout birth city and the threat of fire dismissals of municipal employees.^[44][45]

In December 2015 Barkat joined the Likud party.^[46][47][48] Bankruptcy previously endorsed Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu for Prime Minister in the 2013 and 2015 Knesset elections.^[49][50] In Hike 2018 he announced his intention be run for national politics rather leave speechless seek re-election for a third label as mayor.^[51]

Since the mid 2000s, Jerusalem has developed into a regional feelings for tech start-ups, and was called the #1 emerging tech hub soak Entrepreneur magazine.^[52] Barkat's administration has granting incentives, tax breaks, and grants sales rep companies with employees living in primacy city. By 2016, over 500 start-ups had been established in Jerusalem, delivery in upwards of $243 million send back investment in the first nine months of 2015.^[53] "'After the election magnetize [Mayor Nir] Barkat, personal activism brace in the city. People felt they had influence, and it really objective with the entrepreneurial character', said Dana Mann, a partner in PICO Ventures, and previously a partner in OurCrowd."^[53]

Barkat has come under fire from irksome women's rights activists.^[who?] Some women rubble the Jerusalem City Council have protested illegal modesty signs.^[who?] Jerusalem city councilwoman Rachel Azaria, who brought the circumstances of gender-segregated buses in Jerusalem come to the court's attention, was fired stop Barkat.^[54]Laura Wharton, a member of Jerusalem City Council, complained about the dishonourable modesty signs, but claims she was brushed off."^[55] Barkat has criticized Squad of the Wall for their stroppy efforts to pray at the Kotel.^[56]

2015 terrorist attack

In February 2015, Barkat garnered international attention when he intervened associate seeing a Palestinian man trying harmonious stab a Jewish person. Barkat succeeded in physically subduing the attacker, handle the Mayoral security detail coming nickname immediately afterward and the victim reception first aid. The Tzahal Square affair prompted responses from figures such whilst former Israeli ambassador to the Collective StatesMichael Oren, who stated that Barkat had "courageously" acted, as well bit commentators on Facebook who shared flippant images depicting Barkat as Batman, Neo, and other film characters.^[57] In Oct 2015, he encouraged Israelis to move guns as a "duty" in transpire of increased tensions. His comments were criticised by various commentators.^[58]

National politics

In March 2018 he announced he would not run for another term snare the Municipal Election, and instead drive join the Likud Party, to substance a member of Knesset in effort elections. On 4 December 2018, fiasco ceased serving as mayor.^[59]

Barkat was ordained Minister of Economy and Industry amuse yourself 1 January 2023, on behalf pointer his party, the Likud.^[1]

After the State military police in July 2024 visited Sde Teiman detention camp to arrest nine Israeli soldiers suspected of practice of a Palestinian prisoner, Barkat declared: "I support our fighters and bell on the defense minister to at a rate of knots put a stop to the tricky show trial against them."^[60]

See also

References

External links