VIDEO: Jerusalem Mayor Barkat Makes Another Appeal To Finance Minister Kahlon

(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

For Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, dealings with the Finance Ministry and Minister Moshe Kahlon is not getting easier as the national government continues to discriminate against the capital in its annual budget. According to the mayor and his staff, Jerusalem receives less than half of the operating budget of Tel Aviv.

In this video, the mayor makes yet another appeal to sit with Finance Minister Kahlon, “any time, any place, alone or with others”, all towards putting the past aside and addressing the needs of the nation’s capital.

Following is a synopsis of the mayor’s statements.

One person cannot decide to impact the quality of life of 900,000 residents and the future of employment for 2,500 families in Jerusalem… Kahlon has harmed one of the Jewish People’s most treasured possessions, Jerusalem.

When we deal with the treasury and they tell us 700, 800 or a billion, how can we trust this? How can we know what is going on? This is my tenth year as mayor and we cannot permit a government office to sign documents and later explain ‘it is not what we meant’.

I do not have personal issues with the minister, and have nothing against him. I am not here for personal gain. I put all my business matters aside 15 years ago because I care about my city. I take one shekel a year salary and I am not seeking anything other than to assist Jerusalem. I travel abroad on my own expense too. Thankfully we are making progress.

For me, this is a life’s mission. My concern is simply how Jerusalem can succeed and I will not tire for this is my one and only goal. You cannot ignore me or get rid of me because I am concerned for the residents of the city. On the day Jerusalem receives a proper budget, I will thank him and then, we must do this retroactively four or five years.

We may not take earmarked money for our operating budget. I cannot cancel a planned road and use that money elsewhere. This is the issue, the budget, the operating budget which includes neighborhood councils and so forth.