Shmuel Greenberg wins Beit Shemesh mayoral race, Haifa’s ex-longtime mayor Yona Yahav makes comeback

Beit Shemesh’s incumbent Aliza Bloch lost the mayoral race tonight to Degel Hatorah candidate Shmuel Greenberg, and Haifa’s former longtime mayor Yona Yahav made a comeback to lead the city, according to initial municipal election results tonight.

Beit Shemesh’s ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, population had launched a concerted push to retake the city, with Greenberg winning almost 60% of the votes, according to the results.

Yahav, 79, defeated David Etzioni for the position to lead the northern, mixed Israeli-Arab city of Haifa with over 60% of the votes.

Candidates were competing in run-off elections in 35 cities and villages across the country today after none managed to secure the 40% of ballots necessary to win in the first round of municipal elections two weeks ago.

In Rehovot, Matan Dil won the mayoral race, defeating Zohar Blum and incumbent Mayor Rahamim Malul.

In the West Bank city of Ariel, a political comeback for former Likud MK Oren Hazan was not in the cards. Yair Chetboun won that mayoral race with over 60% of the votes.

And in Efrat, long-time head of the regional council and incumbent Oded Revivi lost his mayoral bid to Dovi Shefler.

Today’s municipal vote was not a legal holiday, unlike the first round at the end of last month, and voting was restricted to between the hours of 1-10 p.m.