Background
He was born in Basra, Iraq, and started his public career in 1947.
He was born in Basra, Iraq, and started his public career in 1947.
He later became a judge in the Beersheba magistrates" court. Nawi was chosen both for his formal education and his Iraqi descent, important in light of ethnic tensions in the city at the time. During his election campaign, Nawi rejected the notion that he was chosen for his ethnic background, but twelve years later wrote that this had been in fact the reason.
Nawi continued his tenure until 1986.
During most of his tenure, Ze"ev Zrizi served as his deputy.
Prior to the 1963 municipal elections in Beersheba, the leadership of Mapai chose Nawi to head the party"s electoral list in Beersheba.