Niot Watzman was born at Kibbutz Tirat Zvi on January 24, 1991, to Haim, who had made aliya from the United States in 1978, and Ilana Watzman. Niot grew up in Jerusalem’s Baaka neighborhood and attended Dror High School. Before his enlistment in the IDF in August 2010, Niot spent a year at the Keshet Yehudah pre-army program. He was well-liked everywhere he went. Maybe because of the challenges he himself faced and overcame while growing up - he had learning disabilities - he knew how to listen to others and bring people together, helping them reconcile differences and respect each other. His friends and family knew him as a joyful and funny person, self-confident and caring.
Niot was assigned to Battalion 13 of Golani, and, on completion of his training, he was sent home for a small operation. On Pesach 2011, he and three friends went scuba diving in Eilat. An accident occurred, and Niot was seriously injured. He died on April 28, 2011, at the age of 20. Niot is survived by his parents and 3 siblings Mizmor, Asor and Misgav.
