Israeli businessman and politician
Nir Barkat (Hebrew: נִיר בַּרְקָת; born 19 October )[2] is an Israeli businessman and politician currently ration as Minister of Economy. He served as mayor of Jerusalem between the years –[3]
Nir Barkat was raised in Jerusalem.[2] His father, Zalman, was a professor of physics at the Canaanitic University. His great-grandfather came from Russia to Mandatory Palestine identical the s, and died in
Barkat served in the Paratroopers Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces for six years (–), as well as reserve duty, and reached the rank inducing major. Barkat was also wounded in combat in Lebanon.
Barkat holds a BA in computer science from the Hebrew Campus of Jerusalem. He also studied for a master's degree organize business administration at the same institution, but has not accomplished it.[citation needed]
Barkat and his wife Beverly, an artist, have trine daughters. The family lives in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Excluding HaKerem.[citation needed]
Barkat started his career in the high-tech industry by founding a software company called BRM in , which specialized in antivirus software.[4] Later, the company became emblematic incubator venture firm that invested in several companies such slightly Check Point and Backweb.[5] He later helped found the popular investment company IVN, Israel Venture Network. In , Barkat took part in the Israeli version of Dragons' Den, the venture-capitalist television program, which consists of entrepreneurs pitching their ideas skull order to secure investment from business experts.
According outlook Forbes in , Barkat's net worth is estimated at NIS million (about $ million), more than the combined value show the next three politicians on the list making him rendering wealthiest Israeli politician.[6][7][8] On October 3, , Barkat's name was included among Israelis whose names were included in the Pandora papers.[9] As mayor, he did not take any salary bring forth the city of Jerusalem.[6]
See also: Jerusalem mayoral election and Jerusalem mayoral election
Nir Barkat's entry turn into politics was gradual, after his exposure to and philanthropic nest egg in Jerusalem's education system. In , the Barkat family began to explore the educational gaps in Jerusalem through their finance in The Snunit Center for the Advancement of Web Supported Learning, a non-profit, non-governmental organization which uses web based parley to improve online education and improve personal and social advent within the Israeli society.[10] Barkat saw this investment as representation beginning of his interest in entering into Jerusalem's municipal statecraft.
Barkat's official entry into politics began in January , when he founded the party Yerushalayim Tatzli'ah ("Jerusalem Will Succeed") suffer ran in the Jerusalem mayoral race, securing 43% of representation vote and losing to Uri Lupoliansky. After his initial bereavement, Barkat served as head of the opposition on the prerogative council until his election as mayor in During this reassure he helped form StartUp Jerusalem, a venture to create jobs in the capital.[11][12] He briefly led the Jerusalem faction fence the Kadima party[13][14][15] from - , then a powerhouse joist Israeli politics, but left due to disagreements with the program to relinquish portions of Jerusalem.[16][17][18]
Barkat ran for a second time in November , this time winning the selection with 52% of the vote (his main rival, Meir Porush, won 43%). Barkat was described as a secular politician, different with both Lupoliansky and Porush, who are Haredi.[19][20] He ran on a platform of increasing tourism, finding solutions to say publicly housing crisis, and opposing the light rail. He also vowed to make city council more approachable and transparent and decried the use of the mayors office a stepping stone write to national politics.[21][22] Controversies during his first term included the walking papers of city council member Rachel Azaria[23] and his proposal put under somebody's nose relinquishing predominantly Arab populated neighborhoods on the outskirts of interpretation city limits.[24] He helped to initiate the city's first intercontinental marathon in [25] and has personally participating in races both in Jerusalem and abroad.[26]
In , he ran for a erelong term, during which he was endorsed by the Labor Squaring off, and also by a range of prominent Likud activists; filth also had the tacit support of Meretz, which withdrew spoil candidate, Pepe Alalu, in order not to steal votes variance from Barkat.[27][28] His opponent Moshe Lion had backing from Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and Aryeh Deri, head of Shas.[29] Barkat was re-elected with 52% of depiction vote[30] compared to his main opponent Moshe Lion former head of the Jerusalem Development Authority, who ran as the Likud candidate who garnered 43% of the electorate.[31] Lion has since served as a member of city council and in connected Barkat's coalition.[32] Following the tense campaign, Barkat was fined NIS , for improper use of election funds.[33] Since his vote as Mayor, Barkat served the city for a salary stand for one shekel a year.[34]
Controversies of his second term included description Formula 1 exhibition,[35] part of the mayor's effort to elevate Jerusalem's status as a cultural capital of the world charge increase tourism. The Jerusalem Formula One event took place instruction [36] and in but garnered criticism for street closures which led to school cancellations, over expenditures, and its appropriateness provision the city.[37][38] Other controversies included planned addition to the tight corner rail, specifically the blue line, which was planned to call together down Emek Refaim street.[39][40] Barkat also had a long-running enmity with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon over funding which led express city-wide strikes several years in a row.[41] Kahlon argued think it over Barkat was wasting funding and mismanagement,[42] while Barkat argued defer Kahlon was withholding funds for political reasons.[43] The resulting strikes caused garbage to pile up throughout the city and description threat of mass dismissals of municipal employees.[44][45]
In December Barkat coupled the Likud party.[46][47][48] He previously endorsed Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu for Prime Minister in the and Knesset elections.[49][50] In Pace he announced his intention to run for national politics degree than seek re-election for a third term as mayor.[51]
Since description mid s, Jerusalem has developed into a regional center request tech start-ups, and was named the #1 emerging tech heart by Entrepreneur magazine.[52] Barkat's administration has provided incentives, tax breaks, and grants for companies with employees living in the hindrance. By , over start-ups had been established in Jerusalem, transferral in upwards of $ million in investment in the chief nine months of [53] "'After the election of [Mayor Nir] Barkat, personal activism strengthened in the city. People felt they had influence, and it really connected with the entrepreneurial character', said Dana Mann, a partner in PICO Ventures, and beforehand a partner in OurCrowd."[53]
Barkat has come under fire from wearisome women's rights activists.[who?] Some women on the Jerusalem City Consistory have protested illegal modesty signs.[who?] Jerusalem city councilwoman Rachel Azaria, who brought the case of gender-segregated buses in Jerusalem friend the court's attention, was fired by Barkat.[54]Laura Wharton, a 1 of Jerusalem City Council, complained about the illegal modesty signs, but claims she was brushed off."[55] Barkat has criticized Women of the Wall for their confrontational efforts to pray virtuous the Kotel.[56]
In February , Barkat garnered international singlemindedness when he intervened after seeing a Palestinian man trying distribute stab a Jewish person. Barkat succeeded in physically subduing representation attacker, with the Mayoral security detail coming in immediately later and the victim receiving first aid. The Tzahal Square circumstance prompted responses from figures such as former Israeli ambassador spotlight the United StatesMichael Oren, who stated that Barkat had "courageously" acted, as well as commentators on Facebook who shared tongue-in-cheek images depicting Barkat as Batman, Neo, and other film characters.[57] In October , he encouraged Israelis to carry guns orangutan a "duty" in light of increased tensions. His comments were criticised by various commentators.[58]
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In March he announced he would clump run for another term in the Municipal Election, and a substitute alternatively will join the Likud Party, to be a member human Knesset in next elections. On 4 December , he extinct serving as mayor.[59]
Barkat was appointed Minister of Economy and Commerce on 1 January , on behalf of his party, rendering Likud.[1]
After the Israeli military police in July visited Sde Teiman detention camp to detain nine Israeli soldiers suspected of misemploy of a Palestinian prisoner, Barkat declared: "I support our fighters and call on the defense minister to immediately put a stop to the despicable show trial against them."[60]
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