Uri Lupoliansky became the first hareidi mayor of Jerusalem in close to 40 years, winning yesterday's election by a handy 52-43% margin. He defeated independent candidate Nir Barkat, whose denial of connections with Peace Now did not placate the rumor mill about him. The mayor-elect, who took over as city leader when Ehud Olmert resigned in favor of a Cabinet post earlier this year, said he would promote "patience and tolerance," and would retain the religious-secular status quo.
Hareidi correspondent Yossi Elituv said that the low voter turnout was an indication that the city's secular population was "surprisingly apathetic." He said that the Likud and the hareidim fielded separate candidates in both Haifa and Jerusalem, showing that the long-time alliance between the two sectors is no longer in effect. In the mayoral elections in Haifa, Shinui-Labor's Yonah Yahav beat out the Likud's Shmuel Arad.
Hareidi correspondent Yossi Elituv said that the low voter turnout was an indication that the city's secular population was "surprisingly apathetic." He said that the Likud and the hareidim fielded separate candidates in both Haifa and Jerusalem, showing that the long-time alliance between the two sectors is no longer in effect. In the mayoral elections in Haifa, Shinui-Labor's Yonah Yahav beat out the Likud's Shmuel Arad.