Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who is winding down his first term in office while working to earn the voter’s support for a second term, spoke with Kikar Shabbat.

When asked to summarize his first term, the mayor explains that today Jerusalem is improved, and in the first years in office he has succeeded to turnaround a number of unwanted trends, including an ailing job market, negative migration, and the large gap between different sectors of the city.

When asked to cite his major accomplishment, the mayor explained it does not work this way but the changes he cited in addition to the added cultural activities and improved education are all building blocks of his accomplishments. He feels Jerusalem in beginning to show itself as the nation’s capital as a leader, moving ahead to the forefront where the city belongs. He cites the improvements in the education system; the many jobs created, improved infrastructure and improved transportation as just some of the accomplishments that have led to a high approval rating. The mayor adds that it is quite an accomplishment to have led a coalition consisting of 29 of the 31 elected officials, that is to say a broad-based coalition that included the vast majority of opinions and walks of life. He feels this speaks volumes regarding his methodology and success in implementing his vision.

The mayor explains that one of his goals for the next term is to change the relationship with the national government. He explains that today, the funding of the city by Knesset per resident is still lower than other areas, and this must be corrected.

Kikar:

In the last election the chareidim did not vote for you. What about this time around?

Barkat:

It is not about supporting me or not. My hashkafa is that running the city entails addressing its entire population, without exception, and this began with trying to include everyone in the coalition. The chareidim are a member of my coalition running the city.

The fact is whenever it came to dividing the budgetary pie we did our utmost whenever possible to divide funding proportionately, and I feel that everyone would agree that there is not a single community in the city that would say it did not move ahead during my administration. This is my methodology, to work with everyone.

Kikar:

Will the chareidim vote for Moshe Leon?

Barkat:

I am not going into this. The citizens know me know and who I am, and they will decide based on this and other factors. I do not care to address this. You will be surprised to learn however that not all of the chareidim are following the ‘trend’. Bottom line, I have and will continue to serve the chareidi tzibur along with the dati leumi and others.

Kikar:

Do you know Moshe Leon?

Barkat:

We had opportunity to work together briefly in his capacity working with the Jerusalem Development Company. He did everything I asked.

Kikar:

You know Leon. Is he suited to become mayor?

Barkat:

He is one of hundreds of clerks and officials in the municipality system. He did what he was asked, followed instructions and I am pleased with that.

Kikar:

There are rumors of back room deals in the works between Leon and the chareidim.

Barkat:

Listen, I am a Yerushalmi and for me this is a life’s mission, not just a job. I know the city, intimately, and it is not that simple for an outsider to come in and just take over. I live here and was here before being elected and I am part of the city and really understand it. The tzibur is smart enough to understand this.

(Leon is not a resident of Yerushalayim)

For 15 years the city was ‘controlled’ and the agenda of one group or another was advanced at the expense of others and giving serve to residents. I do not accept this and I ran the city differently, in line with my outlook. That method does not work for me. My way has proven itself as everyone is moving ahead. The dati leumi and the chareidim are all moving ahead. The concept of one interest group running the show is unacceptable.

I have created 100,000 and that is a fact. This upward trend will continue as the infrastructure improves and I continue as I have the past five years. This is my profession, coming from a world of promoting projects, today as the mayor.

Anyone who wishes to return to the old method errs and it is not to anyone’s advantage.

Kikar:

But from a chareidi perspective it is more secular – with more stores opening on Shabbos.

Barkat:

Look, this is a matter of philosophical differences. If one believes the city should be exclusively chareidi or secular it is in my opinion a major error. We are supposed to live side-by-side and this compels a mayor to address the needs of all of the capital’s residents.

In the area of the train station complex stores are not opening despite what people are saying. There are some entertainment areas and this is in line with the old status quo and I remain committed to this as did those serving before me. This cannot be changed for the religious status quo is a “philosophical compromise” and this is not something that is taken lightly. “I did not create it. It was here before me and will exist when I am gone”.

Kikar:

Do the chareidim have to be worried about a Barkat in a second term? This time they are backing a candidate who is not even chareidi.

Barkat:

Absolutely not – and let me add that in the last election they opposed me and yet I brought them into the coalition. I believe we must include all the sectors into the coalition as I said.

Kikar:

There is talk that Lupoliansky is going to run. Are you worried?

Barkat:

I am not addressing one candidate or another. I will defeat whoever runs against me.

Kikar:

You promised the dati leumi community a Zionist chief rabbi of the city. You did not deliver so why should they believe you now?

Barkat:

I personally believe there should be one chareidi rabbi and one Zionist, and this will best advance peace and harmony for all. The dati leumi rav is especially important for the non-frum community, which represents a large segment of the city.

One cannot forget the process that I advanced in the five years towards finally getting to the election for the city’s chief rabbis. The elections were delayed a number of times but in my opinion, the election of the city’s chief rabbis will take place immediately following the mayoral election.

Regarding education in the chareidi sector, I added 500 new classrooms. I inherited a city with 1,100 chareidi classrooms that were disgraceful, below any minimal acceptable standard. It is a process, day by day and week by week to close that gap. The chareidim have moved ahead no less than other sectors of the city. I know we can be good for everyone without doing good at the expense of others.

One day you are in and the next day out. Look in Knesset today, the chareidim are in opposition but for me, I believe we must work together anyway as I did. I do not believe in the ‘askonus’ of one interest group ‘running the city’.

Kikar:

How to you personally identify politically?

Barkat:

I personally identify with Likud but as mayor I am apolitical and serve the population of the city as my record has shown.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)