Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat confirmed on Sunday that he will not seek a third term as the capital's mayor and will instead vie for a slot on the Likud party's Knesset list in the next party primaries. The date for the primaries has not yet been set.
"This is an emotional day for me. After 10 years, I have decided to end my time as head of the most fascinating, challenging and important city in the world," Barkat told supporters at Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv.
He preceded his official announcement with a Facebook post saying, "Now, when Jerusalem is on the right track, I will not seek a third term as its mayor. Once my term comes to its end, I will leave city hall, but I will never leave Jerusalem."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Barkat's announcement.
"I'm glad that we will be able to continue working together. We have done it well with you as mayor and me as prime minister and now I welcome you with open arms into our party, the biggest party in Israel. You will make an important addition to it," Netanyahu said.
Barkat has invested considerable efforts in making the leap to national politics. He has recruited some 8,000 new Likud members who support him, making him a force to be reckoned with within the party.
Jerusalem City Councilman and 2013 mayoral candidate Moshe Lion announced Sunday that he will run for the city's leadership in the next municipal elections, slated to take place this October.
"I have worked alongside Nir Barkat for years and today I am more ready than ever to advance the Israeli capital," Lion said.
Several members of Likud's Jerusalem chapter have called on Coalition Chairman MK David Amsalem to run for mayor as well.
