Jerusalem mayor publicly supports PM in coming elections

A day after tackling a Palestinian terrorist who had stabbed a Jewish man near Jerusalem's City Hall, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat met Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed his support for him in the upcoming elections on March 17.

At a press conference at the Mamilla Hotel in the capital, Netanyahu said to Barkat that one way to boost security in Jerusalem was to "continue what we are doing together to protect Jerusalem and protect personal safety in the city by developing and strengthening it.

"In the coming term, if I form the government, I will keep the Jerusalem Affairs portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office, under my leadership, so that I can maintain close working relations with you, the mayor, to continue the development of Jerusalem. This is my commitment to the people of Jerusalem.

"Tzipi Livni said recently she would negotiate for Jerusalem and previously even condemned building in Jerusalem neighborhoods, saying it was an irresponsible deed. I think that says it all: the March 17 elections are a choice between Likud under my leadership that will rebuff any pressure and continue developing Jerusalem, and a leftist government that will capitulate in the face of pressure."

Barkat thanked the prime minister, saying, "I support you and I wish to see you continue fulfill the role prime minister for many years to come, for the sake of Jerusalem and the State of Israel."

Meantime, Avraham Goldschmidt, who was lightly wounded Sunday in the stabbing attack and was hospitalized at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, was released from the hospital on Monday.