Ultra-orthodox voters love him because he has given their leaders unprecedented sway in the running of Jerusalem, writes David Horovitz. Right-wing Israelis adore him for having championed the opening of the Temple Mount tunnel last year, for backing the new Jewish neighbourhood at Har Homa and for granting City Hall approval for the latest Jewish presence at Ras alAmud. And Likud politicians who can't abide the Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, hope that one day he'll challenge Mr Netanyahu for the party leadership.
He is Mr Ehud Olmert, the hardline mayor of Jerusalem. On Sunday, he was acquitted by the Tel Aviv district court of charges that he raised funds illegally for the Likud's election campaign in 1988. The acquittal has boosted his career. Yesterday, he was already having to duck radio interviewers' questions as to whether he would be running for the premiership in the next general elections, due in 2000.
Mr Olmert is a charismatic figure, with wealthy supporters overseas, and a carefully cultivated powerbase at home. He defeated Labour's veteran Jerusalem mayor, Mr Teddy Kollek, three years ago by allying himself with the city's growing ultra-Orthodox sector, and has since outpaced even Mr Netanyahu in his support for right-wing causes.
While Mr Netanyahu is pledging to the Americans and the Palestinians that no new Jewish homes will be built in Ras al-Amud, Mr Olmert's municipal committees have approved plans submitted on behalf of the Miami millionaire, Mr Irving Moskowitz, to construct dozens of houses.
One of the first to call Mr Olmert to congratulate him on his acquittal was Mr Netanyahu. The Prime Minister yesterday went so far as to criticise the state prosecution authorities for having brought the charges. But behind the professions of solidarity, the Prime Minister knows that Mr Olmert, newly armed with a judicial clean bill of health, has now become an even more formidable political opponent.