Ofir Libstein
Ofir Libstein | |
---|---|
Head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council | |
In office 2018 – 7 October 2023 | |
Preceded by | Alon Schuster |
Personal details | |
Born | 1973 Eilat, Israel |
Died | 7 October 2023 | (aged 49–50)
Ofir Libstein (
Biography
Libstein was born in
In 2007, Libstein and his wife founded the Darom Adom (lit. 'Red South') festival in early spring.
In 2017, Libstein was made head of the
Head of Regional Council
Libstein was elected to a ten-year term as head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council in 2018, defeating Nira Shpak, Israel's first female brigade commander, with a majority of 68.31%.[6]
As the mayoral-equivalent of the regional council, Libstein led approximately 6,000 people living in 10 kibbutzim and one communal farm. During his tenure, Hamas rockets fired from Gaza were regularly intercepted by the Iron Dome, and incendiary devices sent from Gaza during the 2018–2019 Gaza border protests fell on his region for 11 consecutive days.[3]
During his five years as mayor, 40 companies relocated to the regional council's new enterprise zone. In partnership with
Personal life and death
Libstein was married to Vered and had four children.[2]
On October 7, 2023, Libstein was killed by
Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria, whose city was a sister city with Sha'ar Hanegev paid tribute to Libstein on behalf of the city of San Diego.[7] Former mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego Police Department chief Shelley Zimmerman publicly shared that Libstein "was a wonderful man."[10]
Tributes
During the
In November, the Israeli government announced that a new community built in the Negev would be named Ofir, after Libstein. The naming decision was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli housing minister Yitzhak Goldknopf.[12]
On December 18 2023, the Habonim Dror movement, of which Libstein was chairman before his killing, inaugurated the Or Ofir Foundation in honor of Libstein. The foundation would build on Libstein's commitment to community building and leadership. Former acting Israeli Prime Minister Tzipi Livni, among other, is on the foundation's board of directors.[13]
References
- ^ רון, ליאת (2021-05-01). "הכירו את היזם שעזב את ההייטק כדי להיות ראש מועצה". Globes. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ a b c "מלחמת פתע: כאלף מחבלים חדרו מעזה לשטח ישראל, לפחות 100 נרצחים". Walla! (in Hebrew). 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Ofir Libstein had extraordinary dreams for his small patch". Economist. 2023-10-19. Archived from the original on 2024-02-10. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "אופיר ליבשטיין נבחר לתפקיד מנכל איגוד התעשייה הקיבוצית". פורטל חקלאות טבע וסביבה (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ Lavie, Dan (2020-01-06). "Lone IDF soldiers could be less lonely thanks to new program". www.israelhayom.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "הפתעה בחוף אשקלון: ראש המועצה המכהן בחוץ". www.israelhayom.co.il. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ Times of Israel. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "אותרה גופתו של ניצן ליבשטיין, בנו של ראש המועצה האזורית שער הנגב שנפל במלחמה". Ynet (in Hebrew). 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Gutman, Nicky (7 October 2023). "הפתעה בחוף אשקלון: ראש המועצה המכהן בחוץ". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ Rocha, natallie (2023-10-07). "Ofir Liebstein, head of San Diego's sister city in Israel, killed in Hamas attack". Archived from the original on 2024-02-01. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Hamas tunnel demolition dedicated to slain Israeli council head". Jewish News Syndicate. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- Jerusalem Post. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- Jerusalem Post. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 16 February 2024.