Tziki Tzvi Avisar

Tziki Tzvi Avisar (Hebrew: ציקי (צבי) אבישר; born September 16, 1978) is an Israeli politician, entrepreneur, and public servant who currently serves as the Mayor of Kiryat Motzkin. He is the founder and former chairman of Over The Rainbow – the Zionist movement, a World Zionist Congress faction.

Tziki Tzvi Avisar
ציקי צבי אבישר
Born	(1978-09-16) 16 September 1978 Jerusalem, Israel
Nationality	Israeli
Alma mater	Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Occupation	Mayor of Kiryat Motzkin
Spouse	Ayelet Avisar ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4

Early life and education

Avisar was born in Jerusalem, Israel. He studied at Goldwater High School in Eilat, where he established the local branches of both the Likud Youth and the Betar movement during his teenage years. Avisar later earned a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern studies and urban geography from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also holds a business administration certification from the College of Management Academic Studies.

Career

Military service

Avisar served in the Israeli Navy as a combatant and later as a deputy commander of patrol ships. His service included operations in the Red Sea, Gaza, and Lebanon. He also received training as a combat paramedic.

Public service

From 2001 to 2004, Avisar served as the director of the Intelligence Division of the Supreme Court of Israel, assessing security threats to Supreme Court justices. Between 2004 and 2009, he worked as a professional advisor to various government ministries, including Internal Security, Absorption, Industry, Trade, and Labour.

Entrepreneurship

In 2004, Avisar founded SkyTech Software House, specializing in software development for academic institutions and major corporations. In 2011, he established the "Young Academy," an independent educational center focused on enriching exact sciences education for adolescents.

Political career

Avisar's political career spans both national and local arenas, with his ideology aligning with the right-center wing of Israeli politics.

National politics

Avisar's involvement in national politics began during his youth. While studying at Goldwater High School in Eilat, he founded and chaired the local branch of the Likud Youth movement. He also established and led the local branch of the Betar movement, demonstrating his early commitment to right-wing Zionist ideals. His engagement in national politics continued in 2005 when he managed internet content for former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's election campaign. He later authored Sharon, Five Years Forward (2011, in Hebrew), analyzing Sharon's political transformation and subsequent events. In 2014, Avisar founded Over The Rainbow, a global Zionist movement operating in multiple countries, marking his engagement with international Jewish affairs.

Local politics

Avisar's career in local politics began with his work in the Kiryat Motzkin municipality. In 2011, he established the Department of Information Systems and Communication in the municipality, where he worked until 2014. Two years after leaving his municipal position, in 2016, Avisar founded the "New Spirit in Motzkin" movement. This marked his entry into local politics, advocating for improvements in education, urban renewal, and senior citizen assistance. In the 2018 municipal elections, Avisar's faction secured 5 seats on the Kiryat Motzkin city council, becoming the largest opposition faction. Notably, as a mayoral candidate and with the faction he established, Avisar received exceptional support across the political spectrum, from right-wing to left-wing groups, and from LGBTQ+ organizations to religious groups. This broad-based support underscored his ability to appeal to diverse constituencies and bridge ideological divides within the local political landscape. Throughout his political career, Avisar has maintained a right-center stance, balancing traditional right-wing values with more centrist approaches to social and economic issues.

Over The Rainbow movement

In 2014, Avisar founded Over The Rainbow, a global Zionist movement operating in 14 countries. The organization aims to strengthen Jewish communities worldwide and combat anti-Semitism. Its establishment was influenced by demographic studies, particularly those of Sergio DellaPergola from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Over The Rainbow gained recognition at the 37th World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem in October 2015, securing twelve representatives and four observers. Avisar served as the chairman of Over The Rainbow until 2020, when he stepped down from the position to focus on his local political career in Kiryat Motzkin.

Mayor of Kiryat Motzkin

The Kiryat Motzkin mayoral elections, in which Avisar ultimately emerged victorious, were postponed twice due to the Israel–Hamas war that broke out following the October 7, 2023 attacks. The elections were finally held on February 27, 2024. Avisar won the election, with his faction securing 7 seats on the city council. Immediately after his election, Avisar moved swiftly to stabilize the municipal system. His first priority was to approve the city's annual budget. Following this crucial step, he implemented a comprehensive reform of the municipal property tax (arnona) system. As part of this reform, he divided the city into four separate tax zones. Avisar also led a series of efficiency measures and reduced administrative expenses within the municipality. Furthermore, he initiated urban renewal projects, increased investment in the local education system, and launched new projects for senior citizens. These reforms aimed to optimize city resources while improving services for residents across various age groups and neighborhoods.

Personal life

Avisar holds a civilian pilot's license. He is married to Ayelet Avisar, and they have four children: Yuval, Ron, Alon, and Ray.