East Jerusalem (archives)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Palestinian running for Jerusalem council
Zohir Hamdan, head of east Jerusalem village of Tzur Baher, says his list represents Muslims, Christians and Jews
Zohir Hamdan, a Palestinian serving as the mukhtar (head) of the east Jerusalem village of Tzur Baher, is running for the capital's city council.
Hamdan announced Monday that he would be running as part of an independent list representing Muslims, Christians and Jews. He added that he is not backed by any political movement.
This is the first time that a Palestinian from east Jerusalem takes part in the city's municipal elections.
Municipal Elections
Yaffa Baranes
Young secular woman chosen as second on Hadash party list. If elected, she will be first Arab woman to serve on city council
Hamdan, 60, is known for his good relations with Israelis. Some 230,000 Palestinians living in east Jerusalem have the right of voting for the capital's city council, but most of them have been boycotting the municipal elections since the city was unified in 1967.
The new contender said Monday, "The municipality is doing nothing for the residents of east Jerusalem. They don’t get any services. Mayor Uri Lupolianski knows the eastern part of the cities through maps only."
A Jerusalem Municipality official said in response that "the mayor visits the eastern part of the city on a weekly basis and is in close touch with mukhtars from different villages.
"During his term, the budget for the east of the city has been significantly increased and project outlines have been prepared for young couples in east Jerusalem."
Danny Adina Ababa contributed to this report
