Teddy Kolleck, well-known in the United States as the director-general for years of the Prime Minister’s office here, and as head of the Israel Government Tourist Office, has won the post of Mayor of Jerusalem. Although he ran in the November 2 elections as a member of Rafi, the dissident group organized by former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, he had received what was called a “phenomenally large” vote.
An agreement to declare Mr. Kolleck as Mayor, to succeed Jerusalem’s long-time chief executive, Mordechai Ish-Shalom, was signed here today by the members of the Municipal Council elected by Rafi, Gahal (the Herut-Liberal Party alignment), Agudat Israel and the National Religious Party. This city coalition will give kolleck’s administration 14 of the Municipal Council’s 21 seats. It will leave in the opposition the members elected by the Mapai-Achdut Avodah alignment, Mapam and Poalei Agudath Israel.
The coalition decided to name Rabbi Moshe Porush as vice-mayor, the post he has held until now. Mr. Kolleck promised, after he was named, to close Orthodox areas in Jerusalem to Sabbath traffic. That was the “price” he paid for religious support.
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