In the middle of Prince William’s visit to Israel June 25-28, Channel 2 news reported that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat asked to meet with the prince in his Jerusalem municipality office. Barkat, a member of the Likud, was informed with royal decorum that the prince would be delighted to meet with him, but not in Jerusalem. Instead, such a meeting could take place in the home of the British ambassador in Ramat Gan during the official reception that was planned in honor of the prince.
The palace announced in advance that the duke of Cambridge’s first official visit to Israel was not a political visit. In statements preparing for the trip, which were released in advance weeks earlier, East Jerusalem was described as “occupied Palestinian territory.” But Barkat, who plans to run for a place on the Likud list in the next Knesset, tried to gain some political benefit from the royal visit. It is safe to assume that he and his staff were wellaware that their request would be denied.
