Mob of Israeli nationalists loudly proclaim "Long live Israel, death to Arabs" during annual march in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel - This Monday, throngs of young Israeli Jews marched through Muslim neighborhoods in Jerusalem's Old City during an annual celebration marking Israel's conquest of the eastern part of the city in 1967. The procession, known as the March of Flags, is a significant event for many Israelis, symbolizing the return of Jewish sovereignty over their holiest site, the Western Wall, following nearly two decades of separation.
The parade, which often becomes rowdy, witnessed ultranationalist Jewish participants singing "May your village burn" and chanting "Death to Arabs." Palestinian shopkeepers closed early, and police were stationed along the alleys to manage a procession that typically sees acts of violence. A celebratory police officer was seen hugging a marcher at one point.
Police actively monitored the event to maintain order. Hours prior, a small group of protesters, which included an Israeli member of parliament, had stormed the compound of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem.
Tensions have been running high across the city, with nearly 600 days of war in Gaza and Jerusalem being one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides claim the city as a vital part of their religious and national identity, making it a persistent flashpoint.
Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal, undivided capital, claiming sovereignty since capturing East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. While international recognition for Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem is sparse, Palestinians aspire to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Jerusalem Day march has previously incited violence. Last year, ultranationalist Israeli participants attacked a Palestinian journalist in the Old City during the first year of the war in Gaza. Four years earlier, the march directly contributed to an 11-day war in Gaza.
This year, police reported detaining several individuals and working to minimize violence, confrontations, and provocations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to uphold a united and sovereign Jerusalem in an address given in an East Jerusalem archaeological park.
Volunteers from pro-peace organizations tried to mitigate instances of violence between the marchers and residents, while a shopkeeper was seen cleaning up after marchers had tipped over his merchandise. The demonstration followed a pattern of Israeli nationalists publicly mocking and harassing Palestinians on the streets of Jerusalem.
A separate incident took place on Monday, as Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the Temple Mount site, sacred to both Jews and Muslims. Israeli lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer prayed at the location, which has previously ignited widespread violence. Ben-Gvir maintained that he aimed to change the long-established status quo, which restricts Jewish prayers at the site.
Though the prime minister's office claimed there had been no change to the status quo and police stated that Monday's march would not enter the site, Palestinians have continuously accused Israel of eroding this understanding through increased Jewish visits to the site. Tensions over the Temple Mount are a recurring source of conflict, with perceptions of Israeli infringement on the site often sparking violence.
For many Israelis, Jerusalem Day is a triumphant occasion commemorating the unification of Jerusalem and the restoration of access to key Jewish holy sites. However, in recent years, the event has been predominantly led by young nationalist and religious Israelis, frequently escalating tensions with Palestinians.
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