Barkat, in victory speech, promises ‘not to leave any sector behind’

Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat finally arrives at his campaign victory party in a club on the Hebron Road, and is mobbed by supporters.

He finally makes it to the stage and takes the microphone. He praises the “team” that supported him, “and of course all the voters” — those who voted for him, his rivals, and “those who didn’t vote at all.” And he thanks his family.

It was a very tough campaign, he says, “but tonight the residents of Jerusalem gave us a mandate to lead the city with the same vision, the same path, for another five years.”

Speaking of building another wide city coalition, he says he “won’t leave any sector, any tribe behind.”

He stresses: “There’s a lot more work to do. We heard the criticism… It all went into one ear, and didn’t go out the other.”

He urges other party leaders, “we have to work together.” This is not a night for settling accounts, he says, “it is a night for hugs… I want to hug all the residents of Jerusalem. The elections are over. And now we need all the forces — including those who worked against us in this campaign… We need everyone’s help.”

“Let’s keep on doing what we started,” he says. “Tonight, friends, Jerusalem was victorious.”