[ad_1]
While candidates are vying for mayoral positions throughout Israel as a number of municipalities vote in runoff elections on Tuesday, all eyes are on Jerusalem’s race between Moshe Lion and Ofer Berkovitch.
During the first round of elections October 30, Lion garnered 33% of the vote while Berkovitch won 29%. Ze’ev Elkin followed with 20% with Yossi Daitch after him at 17%.
For a candidate to be declared winner, they must receive at least 40% of the public vote. Despite receiving a public holiday on Oct 30, only 38% of Jerusalem voters cast ballots at the polls.
Lion, 57, who hails from the religious Zionist camp, served as director-general of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and is currently considered the front-runner in Monday’s runoff race.
Berkovitch, 36, won 20,000 less votes than Lion in the first round but is hoping his experience as a secular former deputy mayor will set him apart for a win in the second round. 34% of the Jewish population in Jerusalem is secular while 34% identify as Haredi and 32% as religiously observant.
However, Hasidic rabbinical leaders of Agudath Israel told their followers on Monday to stay home and not vote the following day in the runoff elections, effectively suppressing an unknown percentage of the ultra-Orthodox vote in a move seen as favorable for Berkovitch.
Lion was projected to have support from Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox after receiving endorsements from both Degel Hatorah and Haredi Shas. Berkovitch has unwavering support from his secular Hitorerut party.
Agudat Israel, as a Haredi party, and Degel Hatorah, as a non-Haredi party representing ultra-Orthodox Jews, are at odds after Agudath Israel endorsed Yossi Deitch in the first round instead of Lion with other ultra-Orthodox parties.
Some are viewing Agudath Israel’s orders to followers to stay home as tacit approval of Berkovitch’s election.
After Lion was endorsed by incumbent Nir Barkat and the Jerusalem chapters of Jewish Home and Likud parties as well as several Likud ministers, it is projected to be a tight race.
Netanyahu did not personally endorse his office’s former director-general or any of the other candidates.
Source link
