Jerusalem Mayor: City Must Remain Outside Peace Negotiations
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat's re-election campaign has heightened tensions between former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, supporting Barkat's opponent, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is yet to endorse a candidate.
![Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Barkat arrive to a cabinet meeting marking Jerusalem Day in Jerusalem Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat arrive to a special cabinet meeting marking Jerusalem Day at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem May 20, 2012. Jerusalem Day marks the anniversary of Israel's capture of the Eastern part of the city during the 1967 Middle East War. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY) - RTR32C9K](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/09/RTR32C9K.jpg/RTR32C9K.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=0uxFy40L)
“I know that the prime minister is under pressure from many different directions, including from Avigdor Liberman and others,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat when I ask whether he was disappointed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed him for mayor as the city heads toward municipal elections on Oct. 22.
Barkat, formerly a member of the Kadima Party, supported Netanyahu in the last election, and the two share a positive relationship based on mutual respect. In the last few weeks, however, the Jerusalem mayoral campaign took a surprising turn, with Knesset member Avigdor Liberman, a former foreign minister and second in line in Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu, deciding to back his associate Moshe Leon for the office.