Eliyahu Libman
Eliyahu Shalom Libman is an Israeli public servant who served as head of the Kiryat Arba local council. He previously served as the security officer of the Jewish community in Hebron and is a recipient of the Chief of Staff's Commendation.
Early life
Libman was born to Rabbi Menachem and Rachel Libman, among the founders of the modern Jewish settlement in Hebron.He grew up in Kiryat Arba and in the Beit Hadassah neighborhood. At the age of ten, he witnessed the Beit Hadassah massacre, in which six Jewish worshippers were murdered and sixteen others were wounded.
At 15, he volunteered with Magen David Adom, and in 1988 he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces through a Hesder program.
He served in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, completed the IDF Infantry Officers' Course and returned to his unit, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Security career
From 1992 to 2018, Libman served as the security officer of the Jewish community in Hebron.On 7 November 1993, following a shooting attack in which Ephraim Iyobi, the driver of Rabbi Haim Druckman, was wounded, Libman was first on the scene and administered first aid, though Iyobi later died.
On 21 March 2001, Libman witnessed the Murder of Shalhevet Pass. In 2002, he participated in the Battle of Worshippers' Way in Hebron, assisting IDF forces in locating the terrorists and rescuing the wounded.
For his actions, he received the Chief of Staff's Commendation from Moshe Ya'alon.
In 2003, he rescued Nitzan Pelleg, then an IDF engineering officer, from an ambush in Hebron by positioning his vehicle to block the line of fire until extraction.
Political career
In the 2018 Israeli municipal elections, Libman won 53% of the votes in Kiryat Arba, defeating the incumbent Malachi Levinger who received 39%.In 2021, he called for the assassination of Taysir Abu Sneineh, the Mayor of Hebron, who had participated in the Beit Hadassah massacre which Libman had witnessed as a child.
In June 2023, he voiced public support for the Hilltop Youth, stating: “The heroes of this generation are the Hilltop Youth, who risk their lives in the struggle for the holy land.”
In September 2023 he announced he would not run for another term in the 2023 Israeli municipal elections.
Due to the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, elections were postponed to February 2024.
In January 2024, during the war, he called for the renewal of Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.
Personal life
Libman is married to Avishag, and they have eight children.They reside in the Givat HaAvot neighborhood of Kiryat Arba. His brother Yehuda Libman runs a religious high school in Rehelim and serves as a reserve battalion commander.
Another brother, Israel Libman, founded and directs the non-profit Mekimi. His wife Shira Libman serves as CEO of the Yesha Council. His brother-in-law is cantor and conductor Yotam Segal.
In 1998, Libman's brother Shneor Shlomo Libman and Harel Ben-Non were murdered in the Yitzhar shooting attack.
Elyakim Libman
His son Elyakim Libman, who served as a security guard during the Nova music festival massacre, was initially believed to be among the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.During the campaign for his return, Libman publicly criticized the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and opposed any release of Palestinian prisoners.
He established the "Tikvah Forum". On 3 May 2024 it was revealed that Elyakim had been killed on 7 October and that his remains were mistakenly buried in Holon Cemetery alongside another victim.