'Jerusalem is the most important city in the world'

Arkadi Gaydamak's vision for the city extends beyond the mundane to creating a capital for the three monotheistic religions.

By PEGGY CIDOR
Arkadi Gaydamak 88 298 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Arkadi Gaydamak 88 298
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
It is September 21, 51 days before the city council and mayoral elections, and at Arkadi Gaydamak's headquarters there is still no sign of an election campaign: no posters, no stickers, no slogan - not even an official biography for the press. The official explanation given by his assistants is that "Gaydamak is a well-known personality, who doesn't need to be revealed to the wider public like any other candidate." The Baka-based elegant headquarters are in an old Arab house with a modern interior. Parquet floors run throughout, and on the second story, which appears to be the exclusive territory of the "boss," Persian carpets and soft, comfortable sofas and armchairs abound. On a large wooden desk sits only an LCD screen. Looming behind is a giant black-and-white portrait of late prime minister Menachem Begin, as well as a torn flag of the Beitar soccer club, which is owned by the Russian oligarch. Since announcing his candidacy, Gaydamak has gathered around him various people including two members of the opposition at city council, former Shin Bet deputy head Avi Kostelitz, and Ruth Ralbag, a high-ranking Health Ministry official, both elected to opposition leader and mayoral candidate Nir Barkat's list. Kostelitz and Ralbag split from Barkat two-and-a-half years ago. An activist for the rights of single mothers, city councilor Rali Ben-David, and longtime activist for housing rights, Bracha Arjuani, are also close to Gaydamak. On the first floor, a group of young haredi activists is working hard on the phones. According to sources in his camp, Gaydamak has a chance of garnering a substantial number of votes among haredim, due to his large donations to this sector. Gaydamak's best-known and most veteran follower isDeputy Mayor Yigal Amedi, once a member of the Likud. Also supporting him is one of Amedi's closest friends, Yaron Tzidkiyahu, a wealthy and outspoken merchant in the Mahaneh Yehuda market. Amedi says that "Gaydamak has proven his capacities in doing and moving ahead things when needed. Everybody says that Jerusalem is important and high above anything else, but on the ground, very few have done anything for this city. He is the only one who can actually improve things here." Amedi also believes that Gaydamak doesn't need to run a campaign like other candidates. "Everybody knows who he is and what he can do." As for Tzidkiyahu, he declares that he is strongly convinced that Gaydamak is exactly "the guy Jerusalem and its residents were expecting for a long time." At the time scheduled for our interview, Gaydamak is still busy in a meeting with members of his list and staff in a large conference room on the first floor. Forty-three minutes later he finally arrives. He doesn't apologize for the delay, but does spend more than an hour answering - in English - questions at length. Though he has difficulty speaking Hebrew, his assistants assure me that he is currently taking intensive private lessons. Gaydamak's assistants fail to provide his official biography, despite two requests. From what has been previously published in the Israeli and foreign press, we know that Arkadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak was born in 1952 in Moscow, and immigrated to Israel in 1972. Upon arriving here, he lived in Kibbutz Beit Hashita in the North but left the country in 1973 to establish himself in France, and returned in 2000. He is married, but his wife and two children do not live with him in Israel. His net worth is estimated at more than $4 billion, though over the past few months economic experts have indicated that he is facing serious financial problems. Gaydamak's official explanation for what seems to be a liquidation of his businesses in Israel is that he wants to concentrate on his candidacy and his political activities instead of continuing to do business here. Gaydamak is a French citizen, holds Canadian and Angolan passports, and for a while has been a representative of the government of Angola. In the late 1990s French president Jacques Chirac awarded him the Order of the Legion d'Honneur for helping to secure the release of two French hostages held in Bosnia. In February 2007 he created a new Israeli social movement, Social Justice, which became a political party that July. The party is running in more than 30 city councils for the next elections, and Gaydamak himself is running for mayor of Jerusalem at the head of the party. Why do you want to be the next mayor of Jerusalem? Jerusalem is the most important city in the world. It is a center for tradition and spirituality, not only for the Jews, but for all those who believe in the three monotheistic religions, which are more than half the world's population. For years, Israel has neglected the city of Jerusalem, which is also so important for millions of Muslims and Christians the world over. We should all share a mutual respect for the city that represents the three monotheistic religions. The world today no longer has ideologies, but religions are important. Take, for example, Russia - the political authority has a tremendous interest in religion. And we have to show more interest in the role of religions and spirituality. We must consider Jerusalem as a most sacred place, and develop and protect it for the sake of all the monotheistic religions and believers. How will you achieve this goal? I have already met the apostolic nuncio [the pope's representative in Jerusalem], who expressed a deep interest in my plan and my activities, and appreciates my respect and commitment to protecting Christian symbols in the city - it has convinced him that I am the only candidate who cares about these issues. I am the only one who cares to see Jerusalem as an international symbol; my activity is aimed at serving all the people who care for the city. What is your vision for Jerusalem? I see it as an international, open and undivided city. Of course it will continue to be a capital for the Jews, but also for all the people in the world. [Evidently, Gaydamak is not talking about relinquishing Israeli sovereignty in the city, but rather raising its profile for the other religions. - P.C.] In terms of more practical issues, how, for example, would you solve the traffic and roadwork problems that have paralyzed the city center? Would you consider freezing the light rail project? Of course not. It has already reached an advanced stage, and it is a very necessary project. I will first meet all the people involved and hear them. This city has been so neglected for years, so of course major works have to be done to improve and modernize the traffic, and bring development. But I would first go block by block, in order to avoid a total freeze of the traffic and trade in a large part of the city. And of course, I would see that work is done also at nights, to save time. You know, works of a much larger magnitude have been done recently in the center of Moscow, but I can tell you it has been handled there quite differently. I went to see the location of the roadworks on Jaffa Road. This is a disaster. I don't understand why they don't work [more]. They don't work at all for hours - it is unacceptable. They should work day and night and finish it. If you are elected, will you grant the business owners in the city center a reduction in arnona [property tax] to support them during the roadworks? No doubt I would do it. They lose a lot of money, their businesses suffer very much - the municipality has the duty to help them. According to the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, the main reasons people leave Jerusalem are unaffordable housing and a lack of job opportunities. With regard to these issues, what would you do to improve the situation? First, I will work to achieve an international status for the capital city; it will become the capital for monotheistic people. If we achieve this status, we will see major investments coming here, a positive support from international organizations, including the UN. This will, of course, create thousands of new jobs in many fields. There are so many international organizations who will be interested to have representation here, and that will, of course, develop the economy: tourism, hotels, restaurants, housing, offices, cars, anything. It will bring tremendous improvement. If you're elected mayor, whom will you include in your coalition? Jews and Arabs should live here without borders. The Arab population of the city has been neglected over the years. We have to create understanding where there is tension - that's the only way to lower tension. We have to show respect. Only stability can provide security, and until now, Israel has made use of the military where there was tension, so how do you expect the tension to end? Instead, we have to use closeness, economic improvement, bring investment, to show interest in their [Arabs'] needs. I recently met the mufti of Jerusalem, and I explained to him how, through sports - when I supported the Sakhnin sport club - I intend to create new relationships. Now I am not allowed to give any financial support or funding here because of the elections. They told me that this is election bribery so I can't do anything, but I know best how to handle these issues. I have also shown the Orthodox [haredi] community that I care about their situation. This is why I bought Bikur Holim Hospital. I know that they appreciated it. What would be your policy regarding Jerusalem's cultural life? The economic situation is no reason for the situation now. Life in Jerusalem is the gate to the world. We should facilitate celebrations of all the holidays for all the monotheistic people in the world. It would bring here thousands of people from around the world. Today, Israel and Jerusalem are not respected in the world, but if we do so, that would change. A capital should show solidarity with all its citizens. I have done many things to improve the cultural life in Jerusalem. For example, next week there will be a special concert. I am bringing the Marinsky Theater Orchestra, under maestro Valery Gergiev. It will be free for all people to attend. [The interview took place before the concert.] How do you see the relationship with the haredi community? It is important that we maintain our support for religious circles because they are maintaining our traditions. They have kept them over the centuries for us, and I think that it is quite a difficult life they have. They are the true representatives of the Jewish culture. We have a duty to protect their style of life, but they cannot take care of others' interests. For example, how can Mr. [Meir] Porush, whom I respect, take into account the interests of the Christian community? Mr. Barkat is a very positive man, but he cannot obtain this either. We don't have time to lose. I believe that only I have the charisma necessary for that task. The Israeli nation is divided in many groups, and Jewish tradition is the only thing that unites us. What is your position regarding the plan to build a Museum of Tolerance on the site of the old Muslim cemetery in Mamilla? What cemetery? The municipality is promoting a huge project to construct a museum dedicated to the idea of tolerance, but the proposed location is in an old Muslim cemetery, and has raised the fierce opposition of Muslims in Israel and abroad. Of course, I am against it. There should be respect for other monotheistic religions and we should not hurt anyone. Mayoral candidate Nir Barkat has been very active in promoting the election of Zionist chief rabbis for the city. Considering your good relationship with haredim, what is your position on this matter? It depends on the personality itself. Chief rabbis act according to religious reasons, but with a sense of solidarity. In any case, we should not accept any kind of corruption. For example, in the matters of conversion or kashrut issues. But we should decide according to the people - choose the best available. So you're not specifically supporting rabbis from the religious Zionist community? In any case I would consult rabbanim [rabbis], but we have to choose according to the personality itself. You recently declared that if you are elected there would be no gay pride parade in the city - even if you have to lie in the street to prevent it. But this is not a prerogative of a mayor. I know. I know that, of course. I said that because I wanted to point out my position on this matter from a cultural point of view. When I am mayor, I will do my utmost to prevent such a thing, but I am aware it is for the police to decide. The gay community is not only about the parade. What is your position on the Open House, the cultural and social center of that community? Would you support them through municipal budgets? Yes, of course. That doesn't have anything to do with the gay parade. I will certainly give them the money they need for their social and cultural activities. They certainly should be treated equally in this matter. According to sources in the Interior Ministry, Minister Meir Sheetrit is planning to reintroduce the Safdie Plan. What is your position on this matter? What is the Safdie Plan? It is a large construction plan for the development of Jerusalem on the western side - a plan that would add thousands of housing units but destroy large green zones and harm the environment. We should protect the green areas. Absolutely, I am for protecting the green areas.