In French, “déjà vu” means “already seen.” Earlier this week in Jerusalem, “déjà stink” might have been a more apt term to describe the third round of the Barkat-Kahlon war.
Some 900,000 residents were unwitting victims of an ongoing struggle between Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) and Mayor Nir Barkat. For the third year running, the approval of Jerusalem’s budget generated chaos, anger and dirt – making the capital’s appearance embarrassing and repulsive.
Confrontation between the city’s mayor and the Treasury did not originate with Kahlon and Barkat; even legendary mayor Teddy Kollek (whose 11th yahrzeit was earlier this week) had to do noble battle against the government for Jerusalem. Kollek moved his office to the entrance of the Knesset to underscore how unaccommodating the government was toward the city by whose name the politicians swore devotion. Kollek’s successor, Ehud Olmert, had to organize repeated demonstrations in order to get a more shekels for the city – even during the Second Intifada.
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