MK (Kulanu) Rachel Azariya, a former member of the Jerusalem City Council, has announced she too will be entering the race for Jerusalem mayor, joining Ze’ev Elkin, Moshe Leon and Dov Berkowitz.

Azaria, 41, married and mother of four, who served as deputy mayor of Jerusalem, announced that she would run for mayor and that she would be the first woman to run for mayor of Jerusalem.

Azaria said that “my deep desire to work for Jerusalem has led me to the decision to return home, to the place where my heart is located, and to present my candidacy for mayor of Jerusalem.”

“Now, with more experience and public roles, I am returning to work for Jerusalem – out of Jerusalem, and I pledge to continue to act with the same determination, sensitivity and mission in the future.”

Azaria often encountered friction and confrontation with the chareidi leadership over essential issues such as kashrus, exclusion and glorification of women, so that at this stage it does not appear that she will receive chareidi support, even partially.

A statement from the Hisorarus party states Azariya left Hisorarus “for a job”, leaving Jerusalem City Hall to enter Knesset, and now “she is doing the same” to run for mayor, once again in the midst of a term. The notice adds that she is doing so after learning she has been ousted from the Kulanu list in the next Knesset. The party statement stresses the only party candidate from the party in the mayoral race is Ofir Berkowitz. The statement adds “She has closed a deal with Elkin and therefore, she is not running anywhere other than her next job”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)