Moshe Leon, mayor of Jerusalem for the past 4.5 years, has no doubt that the annual flag parade must pass through its regular route today – through the Muslim Quarter. He is not afraid of any security escalation, and generally believes that the level of security in the capital is very high.
Since taking office, he has focused on the city's economic situation, and is proud of the high-tech employment centers currently being built in the city and the progress of the light rail network that will, as he puts it, get the city out of traffic jams. Leon believes that Jerusalem, despite its demographic complexity, will "finally become independent in its budget, and will not need the government for additional grants."
Preparing for the flag parade in the capital, yesterday, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Wouldn't the parade of flags passing through the Muslim Quarter cause a security escalation?
"I think it's an excuse or a reason to party, as they say. The parade has been held for decades along the same fixed route, and for some reason in recent years they have been trying to raise some doubt about whether to continue it or change it. So let me tell you unequivocally: the flag parade will take place on the regular route. Jerusalem Day is celebrated only once a year, it's a celebration that expresses the union between East and West Jerusalem, and the parade is part of that celebration."
Yesterday, there were reports of fear of missile fire during the parade.
"I'm not afraid of gunfire and I don't think that's the narrative to which the parade should be taken. Only last week we all saw the IDF's capabilities in the face of rocket fire, and I hope we won't have to face this question again."
Recently, fireworks or stones were thrown at homes in the Har Homa neighborhood. What do you have to say to the residents?
"The police and security forces work around the clock in everything related to maintaining the safety of the residents, and I tell you both as a resident of Jerusalem and as someone who walks around the city – the level of security in Jerusalem is very high. There are, of course, irregularities, and they are handled by the police and security forces. We are also networked with cameras almost all over the city, and we also have good security forces that make sure there are no disturbances and acts of terror. One thing must be remembered – the last month of Ramadan was one of the quietest in recent years, and not by chance."
The flag parade is expected to pass through Damascus Gate, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Today, the government is expected to decide on the transfer of NIS 2.6 billion for Jerusalem. Do you think the municipality will be able to realize this amount in the coming month – and with what?
"This is an investment in East Jerusalem that is supposed to reduce gaps that have been created for decades between East and West Jerusalem. The money will be invested, among other things, in roads there, whose current situation is severe. We go neighborhood by neighborhood there and rehabilitate the roads. In addition, the education system in East Jerusalem currently operates mostly according to the Palestinian method, and our goal is to build as many schools there as possible in which the Israeli matriculation system will be taught. The level in them is much higher, the graduates then go on to institutions of higher education of the State of Israel, and no less important - without incitement materials."
Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Will money be invested?, Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Are you concerned that comparing the private education budget to that of the state, which will be carried out within the framework of coalition funds, will harm the continued implementation of the plan?
"City officials are examining the issue, and at this stage I prefer not to elaborate further."
Do you, as mayor, feel obligated to do the same for the residents of East Jerusalem?
"I must and also work to provide service to the east of the city, to compare east and west. It's a process of years, not that simple, but I'm doing it. I have ongoing contact with the residents of East Jerusalem, with the dignitaries and with the mukhtars, and we do everything so that a resident of East Jerusalem feels that he receives the service from the Jerusalem Municipality and the State of Israel – like a resident of West Jerusalem."
Leon in his office, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Let's talk about the illegal construction.
"The demolition of illegal construction is not intended, God forbid, to harm the residents. Illegal construction is not good for several reasons: First, it is not safe today in an era of fear of earthquakes.
"Unfortunately, all the towers in East Jerusalem were built without a license, and they were built 10 or 15 years ago, but they are not safe. What's worse is that the illegal construction in recent years has been on public areas – where there should be a garden, health fund or school. In effect, it eliminates areas that were supposed to serve the entire public, and people take them for their private needs. This is something that cannot continue."
Ruins of an illegal house built in Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood, photo: AFP
The big challenge is to attract quality jobs to the city, and there is a huge high-tech park near Givat Ram. Were you able to populate it?
"First, we discovered that every place we build is occupied by those seeking commercial or high-tech space or apartments. We build thousands of apartments a year, so we have to remember that we have to take care of employment for the residents in them. High-tech companies that need to move here are companies that need quality manpower.
"Second, the Encouragement of Capital Investment for High-Tech Law encourages high-tech investments in the city, so I am very optimistic about populating all employment space for companies engaged in high-tech as well as various companies and offices. As for Hojitech – which is going to be the number one high-tech park in the country because it is the premium of high-tech, and 80% of it is also held by the Hebrew University – I have no doubt that when they start marketing it, it will be in great demand. Fact: One building out of three has already been mostly occupied by companies that want to move in."
High-tech Center at Har Hotzvim Jerusalem, Photo: Contact
Recently, it was reported that Mobileye was threatening to leave the city, also due to the legal reform.
"I heard about it too, but I checked and found out that there was no such threat heard. Jerusalem is proud of Mobileye, it was just a rumor with nothing of the truth, and therefore there is no connection between the legal reform and Jerusalem's success and marketing in the high-tech field. Ultimately, we want to develop as many employment zones as possible so that Jerusalem will finally be independent in its budget, and will not need additional grants from the government. It's a good few years, but we're headed in the right direction."
In other words, in the meantime, you don't think that the legal reform is liable to harm the occupancy of the many buildings currently being built for high-tech.
"No, absolutely not. The whole recent debate over reform should not hurt, certainly not all of our employment and development programs. We continue them as usual."
Mobileye system, photo: Noam Rabkin Fenton
How do you manage a complex city like Jerusalem, which is also supported by the state?
"The city is indeed complex. We are talking about close to a million residents, with the diversity of populations in the State of Israel – a third of whom are Arab residents of East Jerusalem, and two-thirds of whom are Jews, about half of whom are ultra-Orthodox and the rest are religious Zionists and the secular public – so this is a great challenge, naturally.
"In addition, as mayor, I set the economic issue in my vision and I focus on three areas – building as many housing units as possible throughout the city, building employment centers throughout the city, and promoting the light rail so that we can afford to build apartments with higher density. In the end, my goal is for Jerusalem to be the first to get out of traffic jams, so we need the light rail – and when it comes to that, we are the most advanced in the country."
Jerusalem. A complex city, photo: Reuters
What's really new about the city's light rail?
"The extension of the Red Line, which currently operates from Pisgat Ze'ev to Mount Herzl, is expected to be completed within four months. In the end, he will arrive at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital on one side, and Neve Yaakov on the other. In addition, at the beginning of next year, the Green Line is expected to open, which will travel from Gilo through Givat Mordechai, Givat Ram and Binyanei Ha'uma, and reach Mount Scopus. By the end of the first quarter, we are supposed to open the section between Malha and Binyanei Ha'uma, and towards the end of 2024, the section from Gilo to Binyanei Ha'uma is supposed to open.
"A year later, the line will connect Binyanei Ha'uma to Mount Scopus. That's the plan, and we're pretty much on time, maybe even a little ahead of schedule. I'm pressing very hard for us to meet the deadlines, I don't want there to be any mishaps."
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