“The Age of Generals is over; the Age of Mayors has begun.” Haim Bibas, mayor of Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut and chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, may have been the first to say this, but he was commenting on a very apparent trend in the current election campaign.
Historically, popular mayors and heads of local councils have always been courted by the major parties before an election. What is different this time is the way this has intensified so significantly. Bibas, Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich and several other local leaders have been approached by the major parties again, while Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai has snatched the reins for himself by forming his own party. This can all be attributed to the coronavirus crisis and the way these local leaders have responded. They reached beyond their traditional authority, seizing the initiative to make major decisions on behalf of their constituents.
