With the capital going to elections for a new mayor in November 2018, ‘In Jerusalem’ introduces the candidates in a new series – beginning with the largely unknown Avi Salman
By PEGGY CIDOR‘I am running because I love this city’: Avi Salman(photo credit: ILAN AMOUYAL)
On November 30, 2018, Jerusalemites will elect a new mayor. While it is still not clear whether the present mayor, Nir Barkat, will decide to run for a third time or continue his way toward the national field to join the next government, there are already other candidates. With the exception of one, all the others have made it clear – on or off the record – that they will not run if Barkat runs again.For now, there are five official candidates and two additional ones still sitting on the fence – not including Barkat, who holds the joker card in the game.Every two weeks In Jerusalem will publish a portrait of one of those candidates, based on 10 questions we present to all the candidates. The first guest is Avi Salman, once a close assistant to Barkat, formerly a lawyer at the legal advisory administration of the municipality and the first to publicly announce his candidacy.Salman was born and raised in Jerusalem, in the East Talpiot neighborhood, where he still lives. A 37-year-old divorced father of a young girl, he is presently involved in a serious relationship.Who are you? Tell us about yourself.I graduated from Seligsberg High School and served in the IDF for seven years – the last year as commander of a joint community-army project in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Kiryat Malachi, with youth at high risk.Why are you running?Because I love this city. I also care about it. That’s why I joined Barkat’s team 10 years ago – but today I believe that his mind is elsewhere. Moreover, he was elected as representative of the pluralist sector, yet today he is mostly obliged to the haredi sector, while the representatives of the Zionist sector are in the opposition. This is not what Jerusalem needs. So I decided to take action.Who are your voters?Jerusalemites, of all sectors. Of course, for me, the Zionist sector is the central pillar, but I will never disregard any other sector – haredim, Arabs, every resident of Jerusalem has the right to get all the services and attention according to their proportion in the city’s population. I plan to ensure that the city council will reflect the demography of the city, so that I will be able to run the city without having to give in to any kind of blackmail.What will be the major theme of your candidacy?I will put the emphasis on affordable housing, especially for the young generation, to keep them here. I already have a plan for building 100,000 housing units – mostly by adding stories to existing buildings, including public structures. I will give full support to the business sector, as much of that sector is crumbling. Affordable housing and more job opportunities will provide a steady solution to the constant migration from the city. I will run open tenders and projects through graduates of all the academic institutions in the city.How will you handle the tension between haredi and pluralist residents?There are not enough resources to distribute among the different sectors, therefore there is tension. In my coalition, haredim will be reduced to their real representation. I am not threatening them, but I plan to represent the interests of all the sectors. I will plan new neighborhoods for the haredim, in order to prevent tension in mixed neighborhoods. I believe that Jerusalem should be formed of communities in neighborhoods and avoid the frictions we witness today.What are your plans regarding the Arab sector? Years of neglect of this sector, both by the government and the municipality, is an error that hits us like a boomerang and blows up in our face. Neglect of the east side of the city – infrastructure, quality of life – ends up harming the whole city.Are you a rich man? How are you financing your campaign?No, I am not rich. I have taken on financial commitments, I am personally accountable for all the aspects of the campaign – for example, I sign personally on any contract for the campaign; I am responsible personally. I do good fund-raising, as the law permits, and I am convinced I will win this election.What happens if Nir Barkat decides to run again? Will you step aside? Will you join him, or just wait for another occasion?While everybody waited for Barkat to declare his intention, I was the first to publicly announce my candidacy. Today Barkat is bad for the city – therefore my only option is to run, regardless of Barkat’s plans.What is the most important quality required to be mayor of Jerusalem?Concern. To be involved. For me, Jerusalem is a mission for life.
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