Ofer Berkovitch
{{Short description|Leader of Jerusalem's Hitorerut political movement}}
{{about|the politician|the basketball coach|Ofer Berkovich}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ofer Berkovitch
| image = עופר ברקוביץ - קמפיין.png
| caption =
| native_name = 'עופר ברקוביץ
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|06|07}}
| birth_place = Jerusalem, Israel
| native_name_lang = he
| other_names = Ofer Berkovich
| occupation = Politician
| years_active = 2008–present
| title = Former deputy mayor of Jerusalem
}}
Ofer Berkovitch ({{langx|he|עופר ברקוביץ'}}; July 7, 1983) is the founder and chairman{{cite news |title=Hitorerut party quits Jerusalem coalition, leaving mayor with Haredi majority |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hitorerut-party-quits-jerusalem-coalition-leaving-mayor-with-haredi-majority/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=14 November 2017}} of Jerusalem's {{ill|Hitorerut in Jerusalem|he|%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA %D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D}} political movement,{{cite news |last1=Prusher |first1=Ilene |title=Babyfaced but Bold: Jerusalem's Up-and-coming Party Wins Big |url=https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-j-lem-s-babyfaced-bold-political-party-1.5282147 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=30 October 2013}} a member of the Jerusalem city council,{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg |first1=David |title=Likud Minister announces Jerusalem mayoral bid |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/246754 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=31 May 2018}} and Hitorerut's 2018 candidate for Mayor of Jerusalem.{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Gil |title=How a young, secular candidate could take Jerusalem's mayoral race |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/A-young-secular-candidates-plan-to-snag-Jerusalems-mayoral-race-561989 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=9 August 2018 |date=9 July 2018}} Previously, Berkovitch served as Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor and has held municipal portfolios for culture,{{cite web |title=Thanks - The International Puppet Festival |url=http://www.traintheater.co.il/en/festival/2017/thanx |website=traintheater.co.il |accessdate=9 August 2018}} economic development,{{cite news |last1=Kalev |first1=Gol |title=Embassy in the Holy City? |url=https://aifl.org/embassy-holy-city/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=2 February 2017}} and the city center{{cite news |last1=Shtarkman |first1=Rotem |title=In the time that Huldai moved Tel Aviv forward, nothing was done in Jerusalem. That is changing. |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/1.4087515 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=13 May 2017}} among others.
Early life
Berkovitch grew up in Jerusalem's French Hill and Ramat Sharett{{cite news |last1=Abir |first1=Bat-El |last2=Horodnichano |first2=Maya |title=The battle for Ramat Sharett: Rocks thrown at car operating on the Sabbath |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/54/ART2/433/662.html |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Makor Rishon |date=3 February 2013}} neighborhoods. He achieved the rank of captain in the Israeli Defense Forces before being discharged.{{cite web |title=Ofer Berkovitch |url=https://www.schusterman.org/users/ofer-berkovitch |publisher=Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation |accessdate=9 August 2018}} Today, Berkovitch serves in the army's reserves program with the rank of major.{{cite news |last1=Yifrach |first1=Yehuda |title=If the secular can't live in Jerusalem, the national religious will not survive there |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/news/49977/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Makor Rishon |date=28 May 2018}} He holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.{{cite news |last1=Cidor |first1=Peggy |title=Dedicated to improving quality of life in all neighborhoods |url=https://www.jpost.com/In-Jerusalem/Dedicated-to-improving-quality-of-life-in-all-neighborhoods-519701 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=21 December 2017}}
Political career
After his discharge from the IDF, Berkovitch founded the “Hitorerut in Jerusalem” political movement with the aim of supporting the city's tolerant and creative Zionist population. The movement, which later turned into a political party, has a student club at the Hebrew University.{{cite news |last1=Eisenbud |first1=Daniel K. |title=Hebrew University women learn to fend off Arabs making sexual advances |url=https://www.jpost.com/National-News/Hebrew-University-women-learn-to-fend-off-Arabs-making-sexual-advances-336749 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=1 January 2014}} In 2011, Berkovitch assisted in the establishment of a social movement called “Mitpakdim”{{cite news |last1=Arlosoroff |first1=Meirav |title=Disgusted by Politics as Usual? Join a Party |url=https://www.haaretz.com/meirav-arlosoroff-hate-politics-join-it-1.5271420 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=26 July 2012}} with the goal of increasing the involvement of young people in politics.
=City council member (2008–2011)=
In Jerusalem's 2008 municipal elections, Berkovitch was first elected to the city council in a rotation with fellow Hitorerut member Meirav Cohen.{{cite news |last1=Cidor |first1=Peggy |title=Fractious factions |url=https://www.jpost.com/In-Jerusalem/Features/Fractious-factions |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=2 June 2011}} In this role, he was responsible for the city's system for informal education, and he was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of the city's urban culture committee.{{cite news |title=Residents of East Jerusalem against naked sculptures |url=http://mynetjerusalem.co.il/article/146598 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Ynet Jerusalem |date=31 May 2011}} During his tenure holding Jerusalem's youth portfolio, the city won Israel's award for best youth division in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Maor |first1=Tami |title=National prize awarded to Jerusalem youth division |url=http://www.local.co.il/jerusalem/86443/article/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=local.co.il |date=10 August 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812165631/http://www.local.co.il/jerusalem/86443/article/ |archivedate=12 August 2016 |url-status=live }}
In 2010, Berkovitch opposed the Jerusalem municipality's decision to prohibit the local Cinema City theater branch from operating on the Jewish Sabbath. In response, he and several other members of Hitorerut appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to maintain the status quo which allowed privately owned businesses to remain open on the Sabbath,{{cite news |last1=Yashar |first1=Ari |title=Jerusalem Mayor Barkat's Arab Building Spree Exposed |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/185127 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=15 September 2014}} though the court eventually referred the judgement back to the municipality. In 2015, the owners of Cinema City announced that they had no intentions of operating on the Sabbath.{{cite news |last1=Eisenbud |first1=Daniel K. |title=Jerusalem's Cinema City to remain closed on Shabbat |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Jerusalems-Cinema-City-to-remain-closed-on-Shabbat-holidays-434934 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=22 November 2015}}
=Director for "First Station" revitalization project (2012)=
In 2012, Berkovitch became the Director of Strategy and Content for a project aimed at revitalizing Jerusalem's then-abandoned old train station complex.{{cite news |last1=Rosenblum |first1=Keshet |title=Jerusalem waits for a "Train Station Compound" of its own |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/architecture/1.1848164 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=23 October 2012}} Today, the "First Station" serves as a center for leisure, restaurants, culture, sport, and more.
=Deputy mayor (2013–2017)=
In Jerusalem's municipal elections in 2013, Berkovitch led Hitorerut as they received 4 seats on the city council. Berkovitch was appointed as the city's Deputy Mayor and was appointed to oversee the municipal portfolios for culture, economic development, and the city center.{{cite news |last1=Reuven |first1=Yifat |title=Barkat gave in to the Charedim in places he never gave in to them before |url=https://www.kolhair.co.il/jerusalem-news/35514/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Kol Ha'ir |date=1 December 2017}} He was also named the Acting Chairman of the Eden Company which oversees development of the city center.{{cite news |last1=Horodnichano |first1=Maya |title=After 20 years of promises: the business center of East Jerusalem is stuck |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/3141534 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Walla! |date=11 March 2018}}
Berkovitch worked together with Member of Knesset Roy Folkman to pass a law which charged the owners of vacant properties double property tax.{{cite web |title=Notes from a meeting of the 20th Knesset |url=https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/Law103/20_ptv_367694.htm |website=Nevo.co.il |accessdate=9 August 2018 |date=14 November 2016}} The purpose of this law was to increase the number of apartments available for rent in the city. Berkovitch also led additional efforts in the area of housing during his term as Deputy Mayor. One such effort focused on abandoned properties and led to the destruction of the Dan Pearl hotel which had been abandoned for approximately 15 years prior.{{cite news |last1=Shteinmetz |first1=Moshe |title=The struggle against vacant properties in Jerusalem: The municipality will destroy a hotel across from the Old City |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/3028500 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Walla! |date=4 January 2017}} Another such effort included his work to implement a regulation passed by then-Minister of the Interior Gideon Sa'ar which allowed local authorities to utilize public lands for the purpose of building apartments which would be rented out at low prices.{{cite news |last1=Hodorov |first1=Matan |title=Analyst: Why don't municipalities build low-rent housing for the young? |url=http://10tv.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=1257664 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Channel Ten (Israel) |date=1 August 2017}}
Berkovitch also fought to avoid the closure of Jerusalem's Smadar Cinema in the German Colony,{{cite news |last1=Harkov |first1=Lahav |title=Jerusalem mayoral front-runner: We need to address people's everyday needs |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Jerusalem-mayoral-front-runner-We-need-to-address-peoples-everyday-needs-556496 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=15 May 2018}} the city's oldest active cinema. As part of his efforts to save the cinema, Berkovitch mediated a meeting between the cinema owners and the building's landlord which led to an agreement that allowed for the cinema to continue operating for an additional 10 years.{{cite news |last1=Levy |first1=Liran |title=Lev Smadar cinema in Jerusalem saved from closing |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4935745,00.html |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Ynet |date=15 March 2017}} Similarly, he led another initiative which widened the criteria under which properties being used by artists were eligible for discounts in property tax. Under the new criteria, properties eligible for discounts were widened to include those being used for previously unincluded disciplines such as jewelry-making, photography, video art, music, and literature.{{cite news |last1=Ribo |first1=Naama |title=Jerusalem municipality to recognize sculptors, photographers, musicians, and writers as artists |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/1.4182183 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=20 June 2017}}
Berkovitch has long worked to return government offices to Jerusalem. In response to Berkovitch's requests, Deputy Minister for Regional Cooperation Ayoob Kara announced that he would move his office to Jerusalem.{{cite news |title=Deputy minister Ayoob Kara announces the moving of his office from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem |url=http://www.kol-barama.co.il/live/141948/ |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Kol BaRama |date=19 December 2016}} Similarly, Berkovitch fought against an attempt to move the offices of the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation out of Jerusalem.{{cite news |last1=Hasson |first1=Nir |title=That's the end of the news from Jerusalem: The new Broadcasting Authority moves temporarily to Modi'in |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/local/.premium-1.2803682 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Haaretz |date=22 December 2015}}
In summer 2017, a crisis arose between Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Berkovitch and his Hitorerut party after Berkovitch and Hitorerut criticized Barkat over his plan to divide Jerusalem's neighborhoods into those meant for the secular, those meant for the religious, and those meant for the city's ultra-orthodox population.{{cite news |last1=Shaham |first1=Udi |title=Jerusalem municipal coalition loses its last pluralistic party |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Jerusalem-municipal-coalition-loses-its-last-pluralistic-party-514179 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=14 November 2017}} In response, Barkat began cancelling work meetings set by Berkovitch and even threatened Hitorerut's city council members with a defamation lawsuit for their claims that he instructed the city's legal advisor to issue an opinion against Hitorerut city council member Einav Bar-Cohen.{{cite news |title=Head of Jerusalem gang not charged with attempted assassination of Yossi Malka |url=http://mynetjerusalem.co.il/article/202390 |accessdate=9 August 2018 |publisher=Ynet Jerusalem |date=20 September 2017}}
=City council member (2017–2018)=
In November 2017, Berkovitch announced that Hitorerut was leaving Barkat's council coalition and resigning as Deputy Mayor. At the same time, Berkovitch announced that he would run in the 2018 Jerusalem mayoral election. In the elections held on October 30, 2018, Berkovitch placed second in a four-way race, receiving 29% of the vote,{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/votes-are-in-for-municipal-elections-jerusalem-readies-for-a-nov-13-showdown/|title=Votes are in for municipal elections, Jerusalem readies for a Nov. 13 showdown |website=www.jns.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-06}} and advanced to a second round of voting against first-place finisher Moshe Lion (33%) after no candidate received the 40% of votes necessary to win.{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Marissa |title=In shocker, Lion and Berkovitch headed for runoff in Jerusalem |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-shock-lion-and-berkovitch-appear-headed-for-runoff-in-jerusalem/ |accessdate=4 November 2018 |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=31 October 2018}} In the November 13 runoff, Berkovitch lost to Lion in a close race, receiving 49.15% of the vote to Lion's 50.85%.{{cite web|url=https://www.kikar.co.il/296929.html|title=בפער קטן ויציב: ראש העיר ירושלים - משה ליאון|language=Hebrew|trans-title=A small and stable margin: Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion|first=Avi|last=Ravina|date=14 November 2018|accessdate=14 November 2018|work=Kikar HaShabbat}}