Is the city against Nir?
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat - whose campaign has sent me many SMS's and voice mails while I have been away - is in trouble. According to one reporter for a major Hebrew Israeli newspaper, if Jerusalem's turnout is above 38%, Barkat wins. If it's less than 38%, he loses, because Jerusalem's large Haredi population is turning out and voting against him. According to this report, at 9:00 pm Israel time Jerusalem's turnout was 31%.
A Globes poll published last week gave Barkat a six point lead over Lion but as the day wore on, the mayors campaign became increasingly nervous and called on the public several times to go out and vote.
Both contenders started their day at the Western Wall and then went to cast their votes, Lion in the German Colony and Barkat in his neighborhood of Beit HaKerem.
Voter turnout in Jerusalem was reported as slightly lower than the rest of the country, with 31% of eligible voters making it to the voting booth by 21:00 as opposed to 32% nationwide. The Arab population of Jerusalem, some 35% of the capital, refrains from voting however, skewing the voting pattern in the city compared with other municipal districts.
The low turnout was expected to help Lion, given the generally high haredi motivation to vote in accordance with their rabbis’ instructions.
Noting the low voting figures, Barkat urged people to vote, saying “The battle is ongoing, nothing has been decided. Everyone has to go and vote in order to guarantee the future of Jerusalem.”
His campaign pointed in particular to particularly low turnout in the non-haredi neighborhoods of Gilo, Pisgat Ze’ev, Har Homa and Talpiot.
“Liberman and Deri are counting on the fact that you won't vote,” added Barkat, in reference to Lion’s major political patrons. “This is the moment to take responsibility for our future and the future of Jerusalem. Everyone is obligated to go out, vote, and ensure that Jerusalem continues in the right direction.”I can't vote because I'm not in Israel. But this is getting interesting. I just wish they'd stop harassing me.
Labels: City of Jerusalem, direct elections, Nir Barkat
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home