Israel is deploying more than 2,000 police for a flag-waving parade of Jewish nationalists through the main Palestinian street in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Israel on Thursday deployed more than 2,000 police to fly Jewish nationalist flags along a main Palestinian street in Jerusalem’s Old City, a controversial event that is already fueling tensions. The procession passed without violence.
Police decided to allow thousands of marchers to take the traditional route through the Old City’s Damascus Gate – despite an increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence over the past year and heavy fighting between Israeli and Palestinian militants in Gaza over the past week.
In the early hours of Thursday, hundreds of Jews were marching toward a sensitive Jerusalem site as part of the day’s activities that are holy to both Jews and Muslims, which Palestinians consider provocative. Among them was at least one Israeli cabinet minister in the country’s right-wing government, with Jewish activists leading the tour.
Although Israeli officials described the march as a festive parade, it was marred by racist anti-Arab slogans and violence by some marchers towards local Palestinians. Two years ago, it helped spark the 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Chief Superintendent Yoram Segal, a senior official of the Jerusalem police, told reporters on Wednesday that authorities are determined to prevent violence this time.
He said around 2,500 officers have been deployed across the area to ensure security and respond quickly to potential violence.
He said, “We will deal sternly with anyone who tries to disturb the peace. He said the problems of the past were caused by a small minority of people, but said there would be no tolerance for incitement or violence that could “endanger the people who are on the side of the road or live on the side of the road.”
Segal said police are working peacefully with Jewish and Palestinian community leaders. He also confirmed that many people believed to be planning to cause violent disruption have been arrested in advance. He declined to elaborate.
The march marks “Jerusalem Day,” which celebrates Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel considers all of Jerusalem its eternal capital, but the annexation of the eastern sector, home to the city’s most important holy sites, is not internationally recognized. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Every year, thousands of Israelis take part in nationalist marches, waving blue and white Israeli flags and singing songs. But in some cases, protesters shouted anti-Arab slogans as they passed by Palestinian visitors and businesses.
Israel’s national security minister, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gavir, has joined the march in past years. It is not known whether he will join this year, his first as a cabinet minister.
In a test before the parade, about 300 Jews were visiting Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site early Thursday, according to Bayadenu, an activist group that promotes Jewish visits to the site. Police were seen walking groups of Jewish visitors through the compound, and more lawmakers are expected to arrive later.
The hilltop compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is home to ancient Jewish temples and is the holiest site in Judaism. Palestinians revere it as the Noble Sanctuary and today it is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.
Under the long-standing agreement, Jews are allowed to visit the site but cannot pray there. But the increase in such visits, along with the sight of some Jews praying silently, has fueled concern among Palestinians that Israel is trying to change the status quo – a charge Israel denies.
The parade comes amid the highest levels of fighting in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in two decades. It comes just days after a ceasefire came into force in Gaza, ending five days of heavy fighting between Israel and militant groups.
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