On November 11 2009, the residents of Jerusalem will decide their mayor for the next five years. One of the candidates, Nir Barkat, discussed with IsraelNationalRadio show hosts Yishai and Malkah Fleisher his plans for Jerusalem.
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Barkat claims that tourism in Jerusalem is a vastly untapped market. Two million tourists visit Jerusalem annually, and Barkat wants to raise that number to 10 million tourists a year within a decade. Such an increase would generate some 150,000 jobs. He also discussed developing the health sciences of Jerusalem, by integrating the hospitals and universities.
Barkat also related to the sharp rise in prices for renting and purchasing apartments in Jerusalem. Local analysts say that many apartments are purchased by Jews overseas and remain empty most of the year. This widespread phenomenon creates a shortage in the rental market and has driven prices upward. Barkat proposes regulating the number of apartments sold to overseas buyers who refuse to rent their property. He also proposed renting vacant vacation apartments, particularly to students of the Hebrew University, who would vacate the housing during the summer vacation months anyway.
Barkat stressed the importance of a united Jerusalem and joining forces with the neighboring suburbs such as Gush Etzion to the south, and Maaleh Adumim to the east. However, his reasons for not dividing the city were more economic than ideological.
Barkat finished off with a call to get out and vote.
The other major candidate at this point is Meir Porush from the Agudat Yisrael Hareidi faction. Meir Porush is a long standing supporter of the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria (Yesha). As deputy minister in the Knesset housing authority, he channeled resources to developing new neighborhoods in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem and the Yesha towns.
Yishai Fleisher is program director of Israel National Radio. He and his wife Malkah host a talk show on Jewish current events and Middle East politics from a neo-Zionist point of view every Monday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Israel time on Israel National Radio.