Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, a candidate for mayor of the capital, criticized the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation Thursday, following the European Union's decision to host the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.
Elkin said, "The truth is I am not surprised by the Europeans' position, but the public broadcasting corporation is proving once again that it does not see strengthening Jerusalem as an important value." He said the corporation "is missing a most important opportunity to strengthen Jerusalem's status in the world and contribute to the development of the city." He warned, "Public broadcasting that cuts itself off from Jerusalem and does not see it as a value will end up losing the people of Israel if it continues on this path."