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Moshe Lion, a long-time political activist, was elected mayor of Jerusalem, winner of ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents.
Lion, who was supported by much of Israel's top leadership, won Wednesday's victory over Ofer Berkovitch in a hotly contested race. Lion benefited from the support of the main ultra-Orthodox factions and their representatives in the government, as well as from Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and influential figures from the ruling Likud party.
Berkovitch, 35, is a secular activist who has launched a progressive program against hard-core religious.
The diverse population of Jerusalem is roughly divided equally between Palestinian Arabs, ultra-Orthodox Jews and the rest of Jewish residents – both secular and observant.
The mayor has little influence on politics and diplomacy in the Middle East, but he has a strong symbolic presence at the national and international levels.
