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MAYOR OF JERUSALEM, NIR BARKAT TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF
JERUSALEM: IN NYC THURSDAY, JULY 23

-JEWS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BUILD ANYWHERE IN JERUSALEM -

JULY 22, 2009 - Nir Barkat, the Mayor of Jerusalem will hold a press
conference on Thursday, July 23 at 930 AM, at 5WPR, 1120 6th Avenue, 7th
Floor (43rd street). Mayor Barkat is also available for individual TV
interviews on Thursday, July 23rd.

"Jerusalem is the capital of Israel - the heart and soul of the Jewish
people. If Jews can buy and build homes anywhere they choose in New
York, Paris or Moscow, surely too, a Jew can live and build anywhere
they choose in the city of Jerusalem. No Mayor of any city in the U.S.
would prevent construction of a home based on race or religion, and I
surely as Mayor of Jerusalem will permit Jews to build in all areas of
Jerusalem, in the same manner as Muslims and Christians can," said Nir
Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem. "We will stand strongly against any
intervention to try and divide Jerusalem. I am proud that there has
never been greater freedom of religion in the city of Jerusalem than
under the flag of Israel - where everyone is free to practice their
beliefs in public and visit their holy sites. The future of Jerusalem is
quite clear - it must stay the undivided capital of the State of
Israel."

Nir Barkat was born in 1959, raised and educated in Jerusalem. Barkat
joined the army and served as a commander in the paratroopers for six
years. He was elected Mayor of Jerusalem in November 2008.