"Ramat Hasharon is a pluralistic, open and democratic city. It will continue to operate in this way and the status quo will be maintained."
This is what Itzik Rochbarger, who is considered a leading candidate in the mayoral elections of Ramat Hasharon that will be held this Tuesday, says in an interview with "Maariv Business".
Rochberger was first elected mayor in 2003 after, according to him, he formulated his political ambitions at the age of 14. In the 2008 elections, he won the first round, with almost 90% of the votes, and was elected to a second term.
Itzik Ruchberger is running for the presidency of Ramat Hasharon/official website, photo: Reuven Kapuchinsky
In 2013, he was elected for the third time, but immediately afterwards announced his disqualification, after being convicted in a court of, among other things, of signing fictitious invoices and offenses related to receiving expenses in the Histadrut's training fund.
He was sentenced to six months of community service.
In recent years, Rockberger used the time to complete a bachelor's degree in law at Ono Academic College and a master's degree in public policy at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.
As the son of Holocaust survivors, he went to Germany, where he engaged in activities related to promoting the ties between the German people and Holocaust survivors, and founded a company that toured Holocaust sites in Germany.
Rockberger (68) is the eldest of five children.
He is married to Ronit, also born in Ramat Hasharon, father of three and grandfather of five.
He served in the IDF Education Corps and in the reserve service as a casualty officer with the rank of captain. He began his political activity as the chairman of the youth shift of the Labor Party in Ramat Hasharon.
When he first decided to run in the city council elections, he won one mandate.
Five years later, as mentioned, he was elected mayor for the first time, after defeating the late Yitzhak Kaul in the second round of elections.
Why did you decide to come back and run for mayor?
"For 15 years as mayor, I received a lot of love from the residents. I set out to return the city to excellence, Ramat Hasharon is the best place to live. It is a city with character and a long tradition of excellence in all fields. I intend to return it to a progressive and innovative city that maintains character".
What are the first things you will do if you are elected?
"The first thing is to embrace the residents, sit down with the professionals. Share the public in decisions about the important things. I believe that the public should be shared in all the decisions that concern them."
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"Mutual guarantee and assistance"
We are in the difficult reality of a war in the south, which may also expand to the north.
How will you prepare?
"I will pay special attention to the elderly and the residents who need help during this time. Together with the professional teams of the municipality, I intend to ensure that every resident knows that they have an address where to turn. I will have a mutual guarantee and help each other as much as possible in times of war. I will establish a special center to help the residents who have run into a problem or a predicament that the municipality can help solve. For me, this is self-evident. These days it is necessary to act to shorten all bureaucratic procedures and allow immediate help for each and every one, and I will do that immediately."
There is a lot of talk about urban renewal.
What does this mean in practice?
"Like all cities in Israel, Ramat Hasharon also needs planning that will deal with the renewal of infrastructure and buildings. Renewal will bring innovation and aesthetics. There is environmental justice, community justice and social justice. Urban renewal will protect the city from the damage of earthquakes and rocket fire into Israel. I am in favor of urban renewal that will be done with sensitivity, And with the full participation of the public. Conservation will be carried out in the city center without high-rise construction."
A few months ago a new master plan was approved.
What does this mean for the residents?
"The master plan was drawn up without the participation of the residents and I have no intention of approving it. I intend to have a real partnership with the residents to discuss the plan afresh. The effects of the plan are critical and it is unthinkable that a few months before the elections they will change the size of the city and its character, and turn Ramat Hasharon into a city Between 150,000 and 250,000 residents, and all this without the participation of the residents and without hearing their opinion."
How will you handle Ramat Hasharon's transportation problems?
"There is no other way to get out of the traffic jams but to switch from using a private car to public transportation with light rail and metro in designated lanes. It is important to return the residents to a bustling street and to community life. This can be planned in a way that will be more inclusive, more considerate and less predatory and harmful. We need to promote the necessary solutions with sensitivity and consideration. However, it is my duty as mayor to take care of private car owners. I intend to do this while taking care of and taking care of regulated parking, and arranging accessible roads, and while preparing for a long-term public transportation solution."
"The status quo will be maintained"
In recent years there have been tensions in the city between the secular and the religious.
How are you going to solve the problem?
"Ramat Hasharon is a pluralistic, open and democratic city. It will continue to act in this way and the status quo will be maintained. Ramat Hasharon under my leadership will stand on the front line, and will fight against any attempt to change the values on which the State of Israel was founded and on which Ramat Hasharon was founded - the values of equality and love of man, regardless of who he is. Ramat Hasharon will maintain its path as a city that loves every person, with liberal values and equality for all. Our city will have freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Our city will respect every person according to their religion and preference. We will not let anyone or the government harm these values."
What are your plans in the field of education?
"Due to the importance I see in education, I have the intention of personally holding this case. Ramat Hasharon has excelled in education for many years. And all the heads of the authority who served before me had the right to work to promote the education system. I am committed to work for education for values and freedom of thought when they are combined with excellence. The education system will be diverse, Inclusive, challenging, inspiring and will put the students at the center. I am proud to be the creator of the education system of Ramat Hasharon. I studied in Ramat Hasharon from kindergarten to high school. I will continue to develop the education system that is close to my heart so that it will be a source of pride for all of us."
Can you guarantee that women will occupy key positions with you?
"My list includes 60% women, including a retired judge of the district court. During my tenure as the head of the local authority, women held key positions in the municipality in all areas, in the finance department, in welfare, in education, and in the property department. Unequivocally, women under my leadership will occupy key positions in all The positions and in all areas. This has always been my policy. In Ramat Hasharon, women stand at the forefront and are not pushed back. They are more than half of the list, and will be a leading factor in the city's leadership. It is impossible to talk about equality and not act in this way. All my life I have believed in and worked for equality in society and equality between the species".
Do you support bringing forward the elections and changing the prime minister?
"Ramat Hasharon, under my leadership, will continue to fight for the values of democracy. Regarding the prime minister, I have not changed my position. Netanyahu must go. I have said this before, must go, it is doubly true today. I am calling for elections now within 90 days, because we do not see when the war will end That's why I'm calling for elections now."
Do you think it is right to hold elections even during war?
"Yes, unequivocally. There are examples of this. Churchill's government decided to oust Chamberlain in the midst of World War II. And the result was much better than they expected. We also had elections within 90 days after the Yom Kippur War Security is not something that can be underestimated, regardless of the war."
How do you intend to strengthen the personal security of the residents of Ramat Hasharon?
"Not only should personal security not be underestimated, it is important to maintain it without any connection to the war. As mayor I will personally make sure that the police are much more active, in order to increase the sense of security and visibility in all of Ramat Hasharon. In recent years the police station in Ramat Hasharon was closed. They recently opened it. We must press to increase police patrols. Seven days a week around the clock."
Are you going to set up a city police system?
"If the Israel Police do not act and expand patrols and security and take care of security in the city,
What will those who come to visit Ramat Hasharon find in a decade?
"A city that is at the top of Israel's successful cities, besides being attractive and maintaining its character."
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