Escalating Aggression: Israeli Nationalists Intensify Violent Protests
In the center of Jerusalem, tensions escalated during the annual Flag March on Monday. This controversial event, commemorating Israel's 1967 conquest of the Arab-dominated East Jerusalem, led to clashes with Palestinians, assaults on journalists, and shop owners.
Thousands of Israeli nationalists, predominantly young settlers from the occupied West Bank, participated in the march. Their route took them through the walled-off Old City, where many Palestinian shops were closed due to fear of violent attacks. The procession initially harassed the few open stores before attacking left-wing Israeli activists and journalists observing the march.
Demonstrators chanted nationalist slogans, including the inflammatory "Death to the Arabs," and assaulted bystanders and Arab shops. The Israeli police present were largely inactive. Clashes with Palestinians eventually broke out in the narrow, predominantly Arab streets. No arrests were reported until late afternoon, with the young participants apparently unable to be arrested due to their age.
The event underscores the deeply contentious status of Jerusalem, a city of great significance for both Israelis and Palestinians. Regarding the march, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the country's claim to Jerusalem, stating, "We will keep Jerusalem united, complete, and under Israeli control."
The aftermath of the march was further inflamed by a visit from Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right Minister of National Security, to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims. His presence demonstrated Israel's assertion of control over the area and was met with Palestinian resistance and international criticism.
The Flag March in East Jerusalem annually exacerbates tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The event's significance lies in its role as a platform for nationalist Israelis to declare dominance over the city, a move that sparks further violence and polarizes the situation.
[1] Source: ntv.de, toh/dpa/rts[2] Jerusalem Day March: A Historical Overview - Contents & Significance[3] Palestinians View the Jerusalem Day March as a Provocation[4] International Criticism of the Jerusalem Day March[5] Itamar Ben-Gvir's Visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound and its Implications on Relations.
- The annual Flag March in Jerusalem, despite being a general-news event, often escalates into crime-and-justice incidents, as evidenced by the clashes with Palestinians and assaults on journalists and shop owners during this year's march.
- The European Union, given its involvement in Middle Eastern politics, has often expressed criticism of the Jerusalem Day March, viewing it as a provocative action that further exacerbates tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
