In an election marred by voter apathy, Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Yigal Amedi defeated Likud MK Roni Bar-On in the Likud Party primaries for Jerusalem mayor. Amedi received 2,850 votes of the meager 5,100 total ballots cast, while Bar-On received 2,375. Amedi will go on to represent the Likud party in Jerusalem's mayoral elections scheduled for June 3rd.
Though the Labor party has not yet found a serious contender for the position, Jerusalem's reputation as a Likud stronghold may be tested from a different direction: a local newspaper poll taken recently indicates that Amedi would be easily defeated by Jerusalem entrepreneur Nir Barkat, who is running independently.
As it appears today, the once-dominant Labor Party is again ready to forsake Jerusalem, as it did during the recent Knesset election, when it decided not to put serious resources into winning the hearts of the city's voters and allowed its formerly lavish headquarters there to become a parking lot. Labor faction insiders in Jerusalem have begun to push the national leadership to simply endorse Barkat in hopes to prevent a Likud victory.
Though the Labor party has not yet found a serious contender for the position, Jerusalem's reputation as a Likud stronghold may be tested from a different direction: a local newspaper poll taken recently indicates that Amedi would be easily defeated by Jerusalem entrepreneur Nir Barkat, who is running independently.
As it appears today, the once-dominant Labor Party is again ready to forsake Jerusalem, as it did during the recent Knesset election, when it decided not to put serious resources into winning the hearts of the city's voters and allowed its formerly lavish headquarters there to become a parking lot. Labor faction insiders in Jerusalem have begun to push the national leadership to simply endorse Barkat in hopes to prevent a Likud victory.