Behind the Exciting Conflict in Jerusalem: Ongoing Rivalry Between Mayor Leon and "Nemesis" Berkowitz | Israel today

The frontal confrontation yesterday (Tuesday) during a meeting of the Jerusalem City Council between the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, and the chairman of the opposition, Ofer Berkowitz, may have surprised some of the guests of the festive event - but for their immediate surroundings it is another climax. Since Leon defeated his opponent in the election.

During a festive council meeting on Jerusalem Day, held yesterday at the Rockefeller Museum in the capital, Berkowitz addressed Leon and slapped him that "the Zionist future of Jerusalem under your leadership is in danger," but even before he continued, Leon lost his composure and called out to Berkowitz: "You are zero from zero."

The stunned Berkowitz did not remain obligated and replied to the mayor: "You are a shame and a disgrace."

"Zero from scratch", "Garden level": An unusual confrontation in Jerusalem // Photo: Jerusalem Municipality website

After the incident, Berkowitz told Israel Today that "this is not the first time he has called me zero from scratch. There is no argument that I do not defeat him, and sometimes he loses control."

Berkowitz's entourage claim that after the 2018 election, Leon was not ready for Berkowitz to be in his coalition, and that Leon says he is afraid of Berkowitz and does not even know Jerusalem at all.

Moshe Leon preferred not to comment on these things.

Leon defeated Berkowitz in the second round of the Jerusalem mayoral election after a close and heated battle.

Leon, who was not born in Jerusalem, took office even though his list did not pass the blocking percentage and during his years as mayor he works for all sectors in the capital.

Berkowitz, who was born and raised in Jerusalem, has for years led the Awakening movement, which represents mainly the secular public and young people in the capital, and is the largest faction in the city council with seven seats.

Berkowitz tried to integrate into national politics last year, when he joined the "New Hope" party, but was placed in an unrealistic place and therefore did not enter the Knesset.

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