The Likud’s senior ministers, MKs and mayors expressed their support for Ze’ev Elkin for mayor of Jerusalem, but the Likud municipal committee decided Wednesday to cancel the primaries for the Likud candidate for mayor of Jerusalem. Hence, Elkin is running on his own and not as the official party candidate as he hoped would be the case.

While most Likud officials are going to support Elkin’s bid for Jerusalem City Hall, the most significant consequence of not becoming the party’s official candidate is that he will have to generate his own campaign funding, as it will not be coming from the party.

Yediot Achronot reports that that senior Likud officials claim that the coalition’s chairman, MK David Amsalem, acted behind the scenes in order to torpedo Likud support for Elkin.

Elkin has already received endorsements from prominent dati leumi rabbonim from Har HaMor as well as one of the most senior poskim, HaGaon HaRav Dov Lior Shlita. While it has yet to occur, Elkin does hope to receive endorsements from chareidi parties, which is significant in the Jerusalem race. He has already expressed disapproval of Reform prayer at the Kosel, in line with the chareidi position.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)