JERUSALEMITES HAVE voted in secular businessman Nir Barkat to be the city's next mayor, prompting celebrations among residents increasingly concerned the city was turning into an ultra-Orthodox bastion.
Mr Barkat (49) defeated veteran ultra-Orthodox politician Rabbi Meir Porush by a comfortable 9 per cent margin after a gruelling campaign for the soul of the city.
Ultimately, the unprecedented efforts by the Barkat campaign to mobilise the secular vote paid off.
The winning candidate even hired two buses on election day to bring former Jerusalemites who have moved to Tel Aviv back to the capital to vote.
In his victory, in the early hours of Thursday morning, Mr Barkat put the divisive campaign behind him, reaching out to all residents.
"Victory belongs to all those who love and cherish this special and amazing city of ours, the Jewish people's eternal capital.
"It belongs to the right and the left; it belongs to the religious and the secular," he told jubilant supporters.
The first task of the new mayor will be to form a viable coalition.
His own list could only mange to win six seats on the 31-seat council, and the coalition is almost certain to include ultra-Orthodox representatives.
During the campaign, Mr Barkat made it clear he steadfastly opposed any territorial concessions to the Palestinians when it comes to Jerusalem.
The Palestinians insist Arab east Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The mayor-elect also announced plans to build new Jewish neighbourhoods on the Palestinian side of the city. But such plans will need a green light from the Israeli government.
Meanwhile, Mr Barkat will have his hands full trying to fulfil his election promises. He faces severe hurdles, like attracting investment and jobs to Jerusalem, and offering affordable housing in an effort to stop the growing exodus of secular residents.