With Ramadan beginning for local Muslims Thursday, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat releases a video message in which he says the city has made “unprecedented preparations” for the holy month.
He also says many Arab residents of the city were secretly happy with the US decision to transfer its embassy to the city, which he says will help bolster the city’s status and improve quality of life for residents.
“I am sure that many of you were happy too, even if you did not express your happiness in public. The Arab residents of Jerusalem understand more than ever that the transfer of the American Embassy to Jerusalem, along with many other embassies, is great news and a blessing for all the residents of the city, Jews and Arabs alike,” he says.
The American decision has drawn widespread anger from Muslims around the world and in Jerusalem. Several hundred people protested outside the embassy as it was inaugurated Monday.
Discover Israel's most beloved poet
She died more than four decades ago, but Leah Goldberg remains a magnetic and enigmatic figure: Israel’s most beloved poet, a powerful woman who lived with her mother and never married, who reinvented herself from the ashes of World War I through her magical writing.
You can screen 'The Five Houses of Leah Goldberg' June 4-11. Join The Times of Israel Community today to support our work and watch this and other outstanding documentary films in our DocuNation series.
I want to see it
I want to see it
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
