J'lem Deputy mayors spar: Is Jerusalem becoming haredi?

In a controversial interview with Army Radio,Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Ofer Berkowitz claimed that he has received numerous complaints from residents about music blaring from loudspeakers before the commencement of Shabbat.

Berkowitz was sharply criticized by his colleague in the municipality, Deputy Mayor Hagit Moshe, who accused him of anti-religious behavior, opposing all religious activity in Jerusalem and fighting for Shabbat desecration, despite the fact that before elections he wears a kippah(skullcap) and tries to curry favor with religious constituents.

Moshe also said that "there is noise from muezzins at 4:A.M. and I didn't see him speaking about that."

Berkowitz rejected the claims and said that mayor Barkat is splitting the city by his preferential attitude to haredim even in neighborhoods where the Zionist and secular populations are a majority. He described the music as a "crime and a public disturbance" which must be dealt with.