Regarding the Jerusalem mayoral race, there is talk that Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin is stepping down from his cabinet post to actively enter the mayoral race. In fact, there are many rumors floating, including some candidates entering the race while others deciding not to run for the city’s top position.

As the situation appears currently, the three strongest contenders for the mayoral post remain Ofir Berkowitz, Moshe Leon and Ze’ev Elkin.

Likud officials on the municipal level met on Tuesday, 8 Sivan, to discus the election and it was decided it would hold local elections on 29 may. This led to rumors that the party will not run with its own candidate in the Jerusalem race, but rather place its backing behind one of the other candidates.

Chaim Bibas, who heads the Likud’s Municipality Committee told Kikar Shabbos News that the committee did address the upcoming elections in Jerusalem, but it did not speak of the candidacy of one person or another. This he explains was left for a future meeting.

Elkin continues to release messages that he leaves the decision to the party leader, PM Netanyahu. He explains if Mr. Netanyahu wishes to tap him and back him in the Jerusalem race, then he will be the candidate and if not, he continues in his current cabinet post. Elkin is clear, that without the party’s endorsement, he is not entering the mayoral race.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)