Nir Barkat - Biography

Nir Barkat (born 19 October 1959) is an Israeli businessman, politician and mayor of Jerusalem.

Personal life

Nir Barkat was born in 1959 and raised in Jerusalem. His father, Zalman, was a professor of physics at the Hebrew University. He served in the Paratroopers Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces for six years (1977–83), as well as reserve duty, and reached the rank of Major.

Barkat received his bachelor degree in computer science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

Barkat is married to his wife Beverly and is the father of three daughters.

Career

Barkat started his career in the hi-tech industry by founding a software company called BRM in 1988, which specialized in antivirus software. Later the company became an incubator venture firm that invested in several companies such as Check Point and Backweb. He later helped found the social investment company IVN.

Barkat entered politics in January 2003 when he founded the party Yerushalayim Tatzli'ah ("Jerusalem Will Succeed") and ran in the Jerusalem mayoral race, gaining 43% of the vote and narrowly losing to Uri Lupoliansky. He became head of the opposition on the city council, until the 2008 election.

In 2007, Barkat took part in the Israeli version of Dragons' Den, the venture-capitalist television programme, which consists of entrepreneurs pitching their ideas in order to secure investment from business experts.

Barkat ran again and won the election for mayor of Jerusalem on 11 November 2008 gaining 52% of the votes, defeating his main rival Meir Porush, who won 43% of the votes. Barkat is described as a secular politician, contrasting with both Lupoliansky and Porush, who are described as Haredi.

External links

• Nir Barkat Bio (from time as Councilmember). Startupjerusalem.org
• Eli Barkat, Managing Partner biography, BRM Capital (2007).
• Nir Barkat official campaign page - Hebrew