Barkat heads to US in attempt to thwart reopening of Jerusalem consulate

15 July 2021, 3:17 pm

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Likud MK Nir Barkat speaks at the opening of an ancient road at the City of David archaeological site in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, June 30, 2019. (Flash90)

Likud MK Nir Barkat is heading to the United States to hold meetings in Washington and New York.

Barkat, the former mayor of Jerusalem who has long been floated as a potential successor to former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to use the trip to push back against the US plan to reopen its consulate in Jerusalem that serves Palestinians.

It is unclear if Barkat will return in time to cast his vote in the Knesset before the next plenum session on Monday. With an extremely narrow 61-seat majority government, every vote counts in the current Knesset, a situation that is even hindering Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s travels.