Prior to a 1975 national law change, mayors were chosen by the city council (which was elected in a closed list proportional representation system).

[1] Under this system, if no candidate receives at least 40% of the vote in the first round, a runoff election is held between the top-two finishers.

[6] Kollek spoke strongly against what he alleged were intolerant Orthodox factions that were seeking to enforce their lifestyle beliefs upon all Jerusalem.

[6] Kollek was assaulted by militantly religious youth ten days prior to the election.

[6] Orthodox and right wing political parties, in opposition of the mayor, were vying to flip control of the council.

[10] While he won an overwhelming victory in the mayoral election, his party list lost its majority on the Council of Jerusalem.

[8][10] Teddy Kollek Labor Ehud Olmert Likud The 1993 Jerusalem mayoral election was held 2 November 1993,[13] and saw Likud nominee Ehud Olmert unseat Labor incumbent Teddy Kollek.

[1] This also marked the first time in roughly four decades that Jerusalem would have a mayor who was not a member of either the Israeli Labor Party or its predecessor organizations.

[20] Barkat was seen as receiving the support of the city's secular majority, which had been regarded as declining in its share of the electorate.

[17] Porush, a Haredi, was seen as attempting to appeal to a broad swath of the electorate, including both the religious and nonreligious.