Barkat may be appointed Jerusalem affairs minister

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat may soon be appointed as minister of Jerusalem affairs by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to a Channel 10 report Sunday, Barkat and Netanyahu have held several meetings on the topic and a legal probe is being undertaken to check whether Barkat can serve as mayor and minister. Barkat, according to the report, has no intention of leaving the Jerusalem mayor’s office.

The Prime Minister’s Office told Channel 10 that “such an agreement [between Barkat and Netanyahu] did not exist.” Barkat’s office refused to comment.

The report indicated that Netanyahu may consider such a move to counter the Jerusalem deputy mayors’ support for rival Moshe Kahlon who heads the newly formed Kulanu party.

Both deputy mayors Yaakov Kahlon, Moshe Kahlon’s brother, and Rami Levy have said they were backing Kulanu. Deputy Mayor Rachel Azaria is said to be in talks with Kahlon to possibly join his party.

The Ministry of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs is currently held by Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) who is also the economy and religious services minister.