In the Israel Defense Forces, Nitzan served in the Ordnance Corps and reached the rank of colonel.

He retired in 1979, but returned upon a promotion to brigadier general as the deputy head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate.

[1] After his defeat, Nitzan announced that he would run in the Kadima party primaries and vie for a seat in the Knesset in the 2009 elections.

Kadima claimed Nitzan quit because the party refused to cover his campaign debts.

[4] During his tenure, the crime rate dropped, the municipality organized a sulha, a traditional Arab conciliatory meeting between two feuding families, and the budget was balanced.