Ofir Libstein | |
|---|---|
אופיר ליבשטיין | |
_(cropped).jpeg) Libstein in 2022 | |
| Head of theSha'ar HaNegev Regional Council | |
| In office 2018 – 7 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Alon Schuster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 (1973) Eilat, Israel |
| Died | 7 October 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 49–50) |
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Ofir Libstein (Hebrew:אופיר ליבשטיין; 1973 – 7 October 2023) was an Israeli politician. He served as head of theSha'ar HaNegev Regional Council from 2018 to 2023. Libstein was killed in theKfar Aza massacre in part of the attack which sparked theGaza war.
Libstein was born inEilat, where his parents lived due to his father's military service. At the age of 4, his parents returned toKfar Netter, where they lived before. He eventually moved back toKfar Aza. Libstein studied inWIZO Canada Children's Village. He served in theIDF as a medic and as an instructor in the Medical Corps. He was involved in the establishment of e-commerce sites.[1][2] Libstein was a kibbutznik and lived in Kfar Aza or Kfar Neter for most of his life.[3]
In 2007, Libstein and his wife founded the Darom Adom (lit. 'Red South') festival in early spring.
In 2017, Libstein was made head of theKibbutzim Industrial Union, and aimed to create moreIT industry in Kibbutzim.[4] He was also a chairman ofHabonim Dror.[5][3]
Libstein was elected to a five-year term as head of theSha'ar HaNegev Regional Council in2018, defeatingNira 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 theIron Dome, andincendiary devices sent from Gaza during the2018–2019 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 withSderot, Libstein planned the Arazim industrial zone near theErez crossing that would enable up to 10,000 Gazans to work in Israel every day. Arazim would also provide training, education, and medical treatment to Gazans. Libstein believed that Gazans would have such a stake in Arazim that they would not attack it.[3]
Libstein was married to Vered and had four children.[2]
On October 7, 2023, Libstein was killed byHamas militants during theKfar Aza massacre as part of theOctober 7 attacks. Libstein was a member of the regional council's local security team.[7][2] His 19-year-old son Nitzan was also killed in massacre. Nitzan was considered missing until his body was found 12 days later.[8][9]
Mayor of San DiegoTodd Gloria, whose city was asister city with Sha'ar Hanegev paid tribute to Libstein on behalf of the city ofSan Diego.[7] Former mayor Kevin Faulconer andSan Diego Police Department chief Shelley Zimmerman publicly shared that Libstein "was a wonderful man."[10]
During theIsraeli invasion of Gaza, Israeli soldiers inBeit Hanoun in Gaza discoveredHamas tunnels connected to a civilian home. The troops' team leader, who was Libstein's nephew, dedicated the demolishing of the tunnels to Libstein.[11]
In November, the Israeli government announced that a new community built in theNegev would be named Ofir, after Libstein. The naming decision was made by Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and Israeli housing ministerYitzhak Goldknopf.[12]
On December 18, 2023, the Habonim Dror movement, of which Libstein was chairman before his murder, 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 MinisterTzipi Livni, among other, is on the foundation's board of directors.[13]
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