Netanyahu Backs Ze'ev Elkin for Jerusalem Mayor

Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he is backing Minister Ze'ev Elkin for the position of mayor of Jerusalem in the upcoming elections.

Netanyahu said that as Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Elkin worked hard for our capital and proved that it is close to his heart and precious to him. He wished Elkin much success.

אני תומך בשר זאב אלקין לראשות העיר ירושלים. כח״כ, כשר ובמיוחד כשר ירושלים ומורשת, פעל השר אלקין רבות למען בירתנו והוכיח שהיא קרובה לליבו ויקרה לו מאוד. אני מאחל לו הצלחה רבה!

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 24, 2018

Elkin was born in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union, in 1971. He immigrated to Israel in 1990.

He first entered the Knesset in 2006 with the Kadima party. He quit Kadima in 2008, as it was too leftwing for him, and joined the Likud.

Elkin is married, and has five children.

He has a BA in mathematics, a BA in history, and an MA in history. He also studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion in 1995.