Meir Nitzan
Meir Nitzan | |
|---|---|
מאיר ניצן | |
 | |
| 10th mayor of Rishon LeZion | |
| In office 1983–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Hanania Gibstein |
| Succeeded by | Dov Zur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 May 1931 Bucharest, Romania |
| Died | 19 April 2025 (aged 93) Rishon LeZion, Israel |
| Political party | Kadima (2008) |
Meir Nitzan (Hebrew: מאיר ניצן; 18 May 1931 – 19 April 2025)[1] was an Israeli politician. He was mayor of Rishon LeZion for five consecutive terms.
Biography
[edit]Meir Nitzan was born in Bucharest, Romania as Meir Mintz. He lived in a displaced persons' camp in Cyprus before making Aliyah at age 16. Upon his arrival in Israel, he lived in the then-transit camp Pardes Hanna. In the Israel Defense Forces, Nitzan served in the Ordnance Corps and reached the rank of colonel. He retired in 1979, but returned upon a promotion to brigadier general as the deputy head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate.
Political career
[edit]Nitzan became mayor of Rishon LeZion in 1983 and was re-elected four times. In November 2008, he lost the municipal elections to Dov Zur.[2] After his defeat, Nitzan announced that he would run in the Kadima party primaries and vie for a seat in the Knesset in the 2009 elections.[3] However, he later left the party to support Likud as he was unhappy with the behaviour of party leader Tzipi Livni. Kadima claimed Nitzan quit because the party refused to cover his campaign debts.[4]
Nitzan served as acting mayor of Lod in 2011–2013.[5] During his tenure, the crime rate dropped, the municipality organized a sulha, a traditional Arab conciliatory meeting between two feuding families, and the budget was balanced.[6]
Death
[edit]Nitzan died on 19 April 2025, at the age of 93 in Rishon LeZion.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "מאיר ניצן ראש העיר המיתולוגי הלך לעולמו". BE106.NET ראשון לציון (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Damari, Ronen (12 November 2008). "Rishon LeZion: The Mythological Meir Nitzan is Going Home" (in Hebrew). Mynet. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ Kaminsky, Vered (14 November 2008). "Nitzan: I will Contend in the Kadima Primaries" (in Hebrew). Mynet. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ Kadima candidates lament choice of Livni[permanent dead link] The Jerusalem Post, 21 January 2009
- ^ Sharir, Moran (January 2, 2013). "In Israel's 'The Wire,' Corruption Is the Bad Guy". Haaretz. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ Sudilovsky, Judith (May 7, 2013). "Lod on the Mend". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "מאיר ניצן ראש העיר המיתולוגי הלך לעולמו". BE106.NET ראשון לציון (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
Mayors of Rishon LeZion | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
