The United Torah Judaism Party, with eight seats on the Jerusalem City Council, on Monday morning entered into a coalition agreement with Nir Barkat. The party will receive one deputy mayor slot and a responsibility over a number of other municipal matters. The mayor also agreed if the Knesset agrees to increase the number of posts for deputy mayor in line with the population of the capital, then UTJ will receive another slot.

Mayor Barkat is pleased to sign with UTJ, significantly strengthening his coalition and giving him a boost towards promoting his Barkat Plan for the city.

Portfolios that will be placed in UTJ’s hands include chareidi education, sanitation, chareidi housing [under the head of the general portfolio], chareidi transportation [under the head of the general portfolio, and chareidi employment [under the head of the general portfolio.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)