VIDEO - Newly elected JerusalemMayor Nir Barkat sent a pacifying message to the ultra-Orthodox community Wednesday, saying he saw no reason for the community's selectmen not to take part in the municipal coalition, as long as they agree to its guidelines.
Barkat beat KnessetMember Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) on the bid for the capital's mayorship on Tuesday, winning 52% of the votes.
"I am committed to the ultra-Orthodox public of the city," said Barkat in a press conference. "There is no need to worry that things will completely change by tomorrow morning. I'm a strong advocate for keeping the status quo in Jerusalem."
Barkat told reporters that he had received congratulatory phone calls from Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Labor Chairman Ehud Barak and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I thanked them for their warm wishes and asked them to rally for the city," he said "Making Jerusalem stronger is a national mission of the highest importance and we will need the next prime minister's full commitment for the sake of the city," he said.