Acting Mayor Uri Lupoliansky (United Torah Judaism) was elected as Jerusalem´s first Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) mayor in elections held on Tuesday. He defeated independent Nir Barkat by 51.62% - 42.73%. Lupolianksy declared he would work to maintain the capital´s status quo between its religious and secular residents. In Haifa, Shinui candidate Yona Yahav defeated the Likud´s Shmuel Arad.

"I see myself as the representative of all sectors of the Jerusalem population," Lupoliansky declared in his victory speech. "I see today as the closing of a circle. In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunified. And in the year 2003, the citizens of Jerusalem are reunified," he said.

"I will wave the flag of patience and tolerance," he promised.

Lupoliansky promised to maintain the religious "status quo" in Jerusalem, and his supporters said secular residents had nothing to worry, promising that the city´s restaurants and entertainment venues would remain open on the Jewish Sabbath. Even so, they said the city would now take on a more "spiritual" atmosphere with Lupoliansky´s election.

Lupoliansky, 52, became Jerusalem´s acting mayor in February when Ehud Olmert resigned, allowing him to be sworn in as a Knesset member and to pursue a senior position in the upcoming government.

Olmert congratulated Lupoliansky on his victory and said Jerusalem´s secular residents could only blame themselves for not caring enough about the elections to vote.

Barkat said he would work to advance Jerusalem as a member of the city council. He also said not enough residents had exercised their right to vote, Israel Radio reported.

Some 50% of Jerusalem´s registered voters participated in the elections, but in Haredi neighborhoods the turnout was closer to 70%. Only 3% of Jerusalem´s registered Arab voters participated in the elections.

Likud candidate Yigal Amedi came in a distant third, garnering only 3% of the vote. Amedi was one of the first to congratulate Lupoliansky on his victory, and offered to serve as the newly elected mayor´s "right hand man."

According to media reports, Amedi reached an agreement with Lupoliansky ahead of the elections and agreed not to withdraw from the race despite his poor showing in public opinion polls. The move divided the secular vote and guaranteed Lupoliansky´s victory. Amedi will serve as deputy mayor under Lupoliansky, the reports indicated.

In Haifa, Yahav, a former Labor Party MK competing at the head of the Shinui list, won the elections by defeating Arad 52% - 43%. Yahav´s election marked the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel that a Labor Party member will not serve as Haifa´s mayor. Labor´s candidate, Prof. Aliza Shenhar, withdrew from the race over the weekend and threw her support behind Yahav, apparently guaranteeing him the election. (© 2001-2003 Koret Communications Ltd. 06/04/03)