Yona Yahav in a victory speech, March 11, 2024/Yoav Itiel
Yona Yahav celebrated his return to the mayor's throne tonight (Monday), after an absence of five years.
In a speech at Tilatan College in the lower city, Yahav told his supporters: "The era of disconnection between the Haifa municipality and the government is over, from now on we work together, I will unite all parts of the city, Jews and Arabs, who refuse to be enemies. Religious and secular alike - one nation."
Yahav made history when he won 62.6% of the votes of the voters in Haifa, more than any contestant in the second round in the major municipalities in Israel.
David Etzioni, who ran against him, won only 37.4%.
The turnout was low: according to the data of the Ministry of the Interior, only 32.9% of voters in Haifa voted.
In the exciting victory speech, full of optimism, which he gave in the lower city at 02:00 in the morning, in front of hundreds of election headquarters volunteers who gathered there to congratulate him, he admitted, "I missed it. How much I love this city."
He mentioned, "At the age of 12, I stood up in class in Leu Bek and announced to everyone that I would be the mayor and no one laughed. And I did."
He added with a big smile that swept those present into laughter, "Someone took it from me. I couldn't stand it. So I came back."
He finished with the blessing "Good night from beautiful Haifa" to the sound of "Adar enters from many with joy".
Those present kept showering him with confetti of yellow ballots.
Yona Yahav celebrates his victory in Haifa, March 11, 2024 / Yoav Itiel
Yahav announced, "The election campaign is over, from now on we are all one Haifa."
Later, in a message to Jerusalem, he added, "I appeal to the Prime Minister and the government of Israel: the era of disconnection between the municipality of Haifa and the government is over.
From now on we work together." At the same time he warned, "Haifa will no longer be a second priority.
Haifa first, Haifa before everything."
He promised that if Haifa does not receive what it well deserves, "we will sleep in the courts, especially in the Supreme Court." He did not talk about the pigs, which he promised to return to the wadis, but said in a language that is not ambiguous: " I am preparing to fulfill all the commitments I made in the election campaign." He also promised to work hard - to his veteran driver, who was in the audience, he promised to return to 100,000 kilometers a year, and towards his wife Prof. Rivka, he stated with a smile, "I promised her not to disturb her at home and I don't I will be at home."
He also announced, "Haifa should prepare well for any scenario, including war, Haifa will defeat Nasrallah." Yahav also said: "When I return to my position, I intend to unite all parts of the city, Jews and Arabs, who refuse to be enemies.
Religious and secular alike - one people.
Five religions, one good and equal city for all, this is how it was and how it will be and this is how we will teach our children." He talked about his plan to teach spoken Arabic to school students, starting in the second grade, and received thunderous applause.
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Yahav in the victory speech, March 11, 2024 / Yoav Itiel
"I want to thank outgoing mayor Einat Kalish Rotem for her period of service for the city," Yahav said, adding that if Kalish Rotem agrees, he will join her for the job overlap.
"I am returning to my life's duty, to start a major repair for the sake of Haifa and its residents. These will be five years in which we will determine the position of Haifa as the capital of the northern metropolis and the future city of Israel's youth."
Yahav said that among the Arab voters in the city he received 82%.
The Arabs who were present at the event, including the head of the Hadash faction in the city council, Raja Za'atara, corrected him that the number had meanwhile risen to 92%. The audience shouted at him with laughter, "Even Bashar al-Assad did not accept this."
More on the same topic:
Haifa
Yona Yahav
The elections to the local authorities