Beloved Mayor Miriam Feirberg-Ikar passes, leaving Netanya transformed and Israel enriched by her leadership.
Netanya bid farewell today to one of its most influential leaders, Mayor Miriam Feirberg-Ikar, who passed away at the age of 74 after courageously battling a serious illness in recent years. Her loss marks the end of a transformative era for one of Israel’s most dynamic coastal cities.
Feirberg-Ikar publicly disclosed her medical condition only eighteen months ago, after rumors regarding her health began circulating online. In an emotional and characteristically honest message, she wrote that despite whisper campaigns and inaccurate claims, she continued working tirelessly—delivering moving speeches on Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day, managing city affairs, and guiding municipal teams with her trademark resolve.
She shared at the time:
“I am surrounded by family, an incredible medical team, devoted employees, council members, and the residents of Netanya who embrace me with love and support. Just as I have led this city with a firm hand until now, I will continue to lead it. I have faced many challenges in my life, and with God’s help, I will overcome this one as well.”
For more than a quarter-century—six consecutive terms since 1998—Feirberg-Ikar steered Netanya through sweeping urban renewal, population growth, immigrant absorption, economic development, and cultural expansion. Under her vision, the city evolved into one of Israel’s most desirable urban centers, blending coastal beauty with modern planning and robust social infrastructure.
Israeli leaders across the political spectrum issued heartfelt tributes, describing her as a visionary builder, an unshakable public servant, and a woman whose devotion to Israel and its citizens never faltered. Her legacy lives in the parks, schools, neighborhoods, and opportunities she created—and in the countless residents who benefited from her leadership.
Miriam Feirberg-Ikar leaves behind a city transformed, a nation grateful, and a legacy carved deeply into the story of modern Israel.
