Miriam Feirberg-Ikar (Hebrew: מרים פיירברג-איכר; born 11 July 1951) is an Israeli politician currently serving as the mayor of Netanya, a city in the Central District of Israel. Feirberg is the first (elected) female mayor in Netanya and one of the few women who have served as mayors of Israeli cities.[1]
Miriam Feirberg | |
|---|---|
 Feirberg in 2006 | |
| 13th Mayor of Netanya | |
| Assumed office 10 November 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Vered Swid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 July 1951 Acre, Israel |
| Political party | Likud |
| Spouse(s) | Eli Feirberg (div. 2004) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Bar-Ilan University |
Biography
editMiriam Feirberg was born in Acre, a city in northern Israel. Her father was an officer in the Israel Border Police, and her mother was a social worker.[2] She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, criminology and social work, and her Master of Arts degree in social work, both from Bar-Ilan University.[2]
Feirberg was married to Eli Feirberg. They have a son, Tzafrir, and a daughter, Tal. In 2004 she married Roni Ikar, former CEO of Netanya municipality.[3]
Public service career
edit
From 1972 to 1988 Feirberg was a social worker and head of the Netanya municipal social services department. In 1998, she was elected as mayor of Netanya. She was reelected mayor in 2003, 2008, 2013 2018 and 2024.
Awards and recognition
editFeirberg won the 1990 prize for efficient management from the Union of Local Authorities in Israel.
Controversy
editIn September 2016, Feirberg was arrested on suspicion of bribery, fraud and abuse of power in connection with alleged municipal corruption.[4][5] by Lahav 433.[6] In June 2019, the investigation against Feirberg was closed, after State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan and other officials found a lack of evidence against her.[7][8] Prosecutors continued to pursue charges against Netanya Deputy Mayor Shimon Sher.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Representation of Women in Elections for Local Authority Heads". en.idi.org.il (in Hebrew). July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ a b Biography on the website of Netanya municipality (in Hebrew)
- ^ Mayor of Netanya Married Her Former CEO, ynet (in Hebrew)
- ^ Kubovich, Yaniv (September 7, 2016). "Police Arrest Israeli Mayor on Suspicion of Bribery, Fraud". HaAretz.
- ^ Yaron, Lee; Pulwer, Sharon (July 27, 2016). "A Family Affair: How the Mayor's Relatives and Likud Activists Help Run Netanya". HaAretz.
- ^ Prosecutors recommend criminal charges for newly reelected Netanya mayor, Times of Israel (November 5, 2018).
- ^ a b Prosecutor: Not enough evidence to charge Netanya mayor in bribery case, Times of Israel (June 23, 2019).
- ^ Revital Hovel, Corruption Case Against Netanya Mayor Closed Due to Lack of Evidence, Haaretz (June 23, 2019).