Nissim Vaturi

Born in Rishon LeZion, Vaturi grew up in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood of the city. During his youth he was a member of the Rishon branch of the Betar youth movement, where he was a cadet of Likud member David Bitan.

During his national service in the Israel Defense Forces he commanded an Israeli Air Force aircraft recovery team. He married a teacher, with whom he had seven children. The family moved to Alonei HaBashan in the Golan Heights in 2001 and he ran a cafe in Katzrin, but declared bankruptcy in 2015.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-sa-ar-s-replacement-in-likud-deleted-information-about-unrecognized-doctorate-1.9365294 Sa'ar's Replacement in Likud Deleted Information About Unrecognized Doctorate] Haaretz, 11 December 2020

He received a correspondence doctorate from the {{ill|Міжнародний університет бізнесу і права|uk|lt=International University of Business and Law}} in Kherson, Ukraine in 2008, but the qualification is not recognised in Israel.

Vaturi worked as a political advisor to David Bitan.[https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/gideon-saar-calls-press-conference-to-announce-new-party-651502 Gideon "Sa'ar quits Likud, slams Netanyahu, announces new party"]. The Jerusalem Post, 8 December 2020. He was placed thirty-seventh on the Likud list for the April 2019 elections,[https://bechirot21.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=99&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text "21st Knesset elections: Likud list"]. Central Elections Committee. but the party won only 35 seats. He was placed fortieth for the September 2019 elections,[https://bechirot22.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=136&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text "22nd Knesset elections: Likud list"]. Central Elections Committee. in which Likud won 32 seats.

Although he missed out again in the March 2020 elections, in which he was placed fortieth and Likud won 36 seats, he entered the Knesset on 11 December 2020 as a replacement for Gideon Sa'ar, who resigned after leaving Likud to establish his own party. Placed thirty-seventh on the Likud list for the March 2021 elections, he lost his seat as Likud was reduced to 30 seats. For the 2022 elections, he was placed twenty-first on Likud's list.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2022-09-18/ty-article/israel-election-the-full-list-of-parties-running-for-the-knesset/00000183-5020-d5a1-a7d3-f7eb20f80000 "Israel Election: The Full List of Parties Running for the Knesset"]. Haaretz, 18 September 2022. However, he was accused of manipulating his residential address to secure a more favorable position on the list during the primaries. He had initially run as a representative of regional councils but later changed his registered address to the local council of Katzrin, which falls under a different electoral district. This change enabled him to secure the 21st place on the list, as opposed to the 41st place he would have held as a representative of regional councils. Critics within Likud alleged that Vaturi did not genuinely reside in Katzrin and only changed his address for electoral purposes. Although the Likud court dismissed a petition against Vaturi on technical grounds, a police complaint was filed accusing him of submitting a false declaration and fraudulently obtaining a position.{{cite news |title= בליכוד זה מקובל, שלם עם הטריק": כך הצליח סגן יו"ר הכנסת ח"כ ואטורי להשתלב בליכוד |lang= he |trans-title= "It's acceptable in the Likud, put up with the trick": This is how Deputy Speaker of the Knesset MK Vaturi was able to integrate into Likud |date= 23 January 2023 |publisher= Mako |url= https://www.mako.co.il/news-politics/2023_q1/Article-ad2683e958fd581027.htm |access-date= 25 March 2023}} He was subsequently elected to the Knesset again, as Likud won thirty-two seats.[https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-25th-knesset-sworn-in-president-urges-mks-to-end-addiction-to-toxic-discourse/ "As 25th Knesset sworn in, president urges MKs to end 'addiction' to toxic discourse"]. The Times of Israel, 15 November 2022.

Vaturi is currently a Deputy Speaker of the Knesset,{{cite web |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/MK/APPS/mk/mk-personal-details/1045 |title=Knesset Member Nissim Vaturi |website=Knesset}} and a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.{{cite web |url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/committees/eng/committee_eng.asp?c_id=4 |title=Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee |website=Knesset}}

In 2022 Vaturi's name was found on a construction project in Tel Aviv,{{cite news |title=ח"כ או קבלן בנייה: איך ניסים ואטורי מהליכוד הוא קבלן בפרויקט בתל אביב? |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-politics/2023_q1/Article-e2ad03116aa0781026.htm |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Mako |date=24 March 2023}} when he was listed as the executing contractor for a recently-started project on Basel Street in the city. The real estate developer explained that they were paying the Knesset member for the use of his construction license. However, officials from the Ministry of Construction and Housing emphasized that a contractor was not allowed to let others use their license. Additionally, serving Knesset members are prohibited from engaging in additional work. Vaturi refused to comment.

In 2023 Vaturi claimed that some parents who support "LGBTQ values" are giving their boys dolls to play with to encourage them to be gay.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-mk-some-parents-try-to-make-their-sons-gay-by-giving-them-dolls-to-play-with/|title=Likud MK: Some parents try to make their sons gay by giving them dolls to play with|work=The Times of Israel|date=31 May 2023|access-date=5 January 2024}} He was condemned by members of his own family.{{Cite news |title=Likud Lawmaker Called Out by His Family Over Homophobic Remarks |language=en |work=Haaretz|first=Allison|last=Kaplan Sommer|date=1 June 2023 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-06-01/ty-article/.premium/likud-lawmaker-called-out-by-his-family-over-homophobic-remarks/00000188-775f-d4df-a39c-f75f30150000 |access-date=5 January 2024}}

In November 2023, after the Hamas-led attack and during the ensuing war, Vaturi said that Israel had been "too humane"{{cn|date=January 2024}} in the Gaza Strip and should instead "burn Gaza".{{cite news |last= Marsden |first= Ariella |title= Likud MK calls to 'burn Gaza' in latest controversy |work= The Jerusalem Post |date=20 November 2023 |url= https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-774213}} He later claimed to have meant only the terrorists; he did not, however, say 'terrorists' in the tweet or the interview. Vaturi also called on Israel to block water "until the hostages are returned".{{cite news |title= 'Burn Gaza now,' deputy speaker of Israel's Knesset says |work= Al Jazeera |date= 17 November 2023 |url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/17/israel-hamas-war-live-thousands-in-danger-of-death-amid-hospital-siege|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231117000220/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/17/israel-hamas-war-live-thousands-in-danger-of-death-amid-hospital-siege|url-status= dead|archive-date= November 17, 2023}} Vaturi has said of the war "We were meant to fight this war against Hamas, as is happening now, and luckily for us it came from the heavens".{{cite news |title=Likud MK: ‘Luckily for us’ October 7 attacks happened so Israel can fight Hamas |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-mk-luckily-for-us-october-7-attacks-happened-so-israel-can-fight-hamas/ |work=Times of Israel |date=26 December 2023}}

In January 2024, Vaturi repeated in an interview that "Gaza must be burned", adding that "It is better to burn down buildings rather than have soldiers harmed. There are no innocents there."{{Cite news |last= Fink |first= Rachel |title= With ICJ Trial Looming, Israeli Lawmakers Double Down on Calls to 'Burn Gaza,' Relocate Palestinians |date= 10 January 2024 |work= Haaretz |url= https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-10/ty-article/.premium/with-icj-trial-looming-israeli-minister-doubles-down-on-call-to-burn-gaza/0000018c-f329-d0b4-a7ce-f36b83d40000 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20240110133136/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-10/ty-article/.premium/with-icj-trial-looming-israeli-minister-doubles-down-on-call-to-burn-gaza/0000018c-f329-d0b4-a7ce-f36b83d40000 |archive-date= 10 January 2024}}{{cite news |title= Ahead of Hague hearing, Likud MK doubles down on call to 'burn Gaza' |date= 10 January 2024 |work= The Times of Israel |url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ahead-of-hague-hearing-likud-mk-doubles-down-on-call-to-burn-gaza/}} He added that after the forced displacement of innocent civilians, "one hundred thousand remain. I have no mercy for those who are still there. We need to eliminate them." He also wrote that Israelis had one common goal which was "erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the earth".{{cite news |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Tia |title=Harsh Israeli rhetoric against Palestinians becomes central to South Africa’s genocide case |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-south-africa-genocide-hate-speech-97a9e4a84a3a6bebeddfb80f8a030724 |work=Associated Press |date=18 January 2024}}

On 19 June 2024 Vaturi said anti-government protesters were a 'branch of Hamas'.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/likud-mk-says-anti-government-protesters-are-a-branch-of-hamas/|title=Likud MK says anti-government protesters are a ‘branch of Hamas’|website=The Times of Israel}}{{cite web|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-likud-mk-labels-anti-government-protesters-as-an-arm-of-hamas|title=Likud MK labels anti-government protesters as "an arm of Hamas"|website=I24 news}}

In July 2024, after the Israeli military police visited Sde Teiman detention camp to detain nine Israeli soldiers suspected of abuse of a Palestinian prisoner, Vaturi joined other right-wingers in illegally invading the Sde Teiman detention camp.{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |title=‘Bordering on anarchy’: IDF chief sounds alarm after right-wing mob breaks into 2nd base |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bordering-on-anarchy-idf-chief-sounds-alarm-after-right-wing-mob-overruns-2nd-base |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=The Times of Israel |date=30 July 2024}}

In his capacity as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Vaturi co-signed a letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz demanding that he implement the Generals' Plan in Gaza. Vaturi and seven other committee members recommended that Katz order the IDF to destroy all remaining sources of food, water and energy, followed by "a complete cleansing of the enemy's nests" and the killing of any residents who did not immediately surrender.{{cite news |last=Shpigel |first=Noa |date=3 January 2025 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-03/ty-article/.premium/israeli-lawmakers-call-on-military-to-destroy-food-water-and-power-sources-in-gaza/00000194-2884-d9c2-a79e-2bc47b360000 |title=Israeli Lawmakers Call on Military to Destroy Food, Water and Power Sources in Gaza |newspaper=Haaretz |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250106042124/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-03/ty-article/.premium/israeli-lawmakers-call-on-military-to-destroy-food-water-and-power-sources-in-gaza/00000194-2884-d9c2-a79e-2bc47b360000 |archive-date=6 January 2025}}

In February 2025, Vaturi described Palestinians as “subhumans”. He called for the separation of women and children and for killing all adult men in Gaza.[https://www.inn.co.il/news/662252 ח"כ ניסים ואטורי קורא להפריד את הילדים והנשים ולהרוג את המבוגרים בעזה] Arutz Sheva, 23 February 2025[https://ch10.co.il/news/965785/ “מי תמים בעזה?”: ח”כ ניסים ואטורי קורא להרוג את המבוגרים ברצועה] Channel 10, 23 February 2024[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250225-israels-deputy-knesset-speaker-calls-for-killing-subhuman-palestinians/ Israel’s deputy Knesset speaker calls for killing ‘subhuman’ Palestinians] Middle East Monitor, 24 February 2025. and "erase Jenin".{{cite web|author=Mera Aladam|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/senior-israeli-official-says-palestinian-adults-gaza-should-be-eliminated|title=Senior Israeli official says all Palestinian adults in Gaza "should be eliminated"|website=Middle East Eye|date=24 February 2025}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Rishon LeZion

Category:Israeli settlers

Category:Likud politicians

Category:Members of the 23rd Knesset (2020–2021)

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Category:Israeli people of Libyan-Jewish descent

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Category:Jewish Israeli politicians

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