BREAKING NEWS

Liberman: Netanyahu won't endorse Barkat for Jerusalem mayor

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will not endorse incumbent Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat in the October 22nd election against Likud Beytenu challenger Moshe Lion, Netanyahu's no. 2 in the faction, Avigdor Liberman said Monday.
Netanyahu is considered close to Barkat, who recently honored the prime minister by naming a highway exit after his recently deceased father, Professor Benzion Netanyahu. But Liberman suggested the prime minister would have to remain neutral in the race.
"As head of Likud, he will respect the decisions of the Likud institutions," Liberman told Army Radio. Liberman defended Lion moving from Givatayim to Jerusalem for the election.
"For important jobs, it's worth bringing a candidate not only from a different city but also from a different country," he said. "We are glad [former Bank of Israel governor] Stanley Fischer moved here."