Police flood Jerusalem streets as Flag March tensions rise
Early clashes as hundreds of Jews enter Al Aqsa compound days after fighting was ended by ceasefire
Israel had more than 3,000 police officers on duty as Jewish nationalists marched through the main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Marchers threw bottles and wooden batons at Palestinians watching nearby, injuring two.
Israeli police say they detained two suspects for the attacks, an adult and a minor. The minor was carrying a knife, authorities said.
The march came less than a week after a ceasefire ended five days of fighting between Israeli forces and Gaza militants.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed the event despite appeals from many Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the international community.
Thousands of flag-waving marchers – mostly from the farright – gathered at the Damascus Gate and proceeded past Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam and a recurring flashpoint for tensions.
The Flag March takes place on Jerusalem Day, which celebrates Israel’s victory in the 1967 war and subsequent control of the city.
This year, some Palestinians avoided the area, even if it affected their businesses.
“I’m closing early because of the Flag March,” Gabi, a Palestinian restaurant owner at the Jaffa Gate told The National.
“I need to take precautionary measures to secure the safety of my workers and the premises. Public transport for my staff is also going to be disrupted. I would rather lose money than the safety of my workers.”
On Thursday, hundreds of Jews entered Al Aqsa Mosque compound, a place considered holy in Islam and Judaism.
Among them was at least one Israeli cabinet minister from the country’s right-wing government, according to Jewish activists leading the visits.
The UAE condemned the storming of the mosque, calling on the Israeli government to “halt escalation and avoid taking steps to exacerbate tension and instability in the region”.
The march has been characterised in recent years by racist anti-Arab chants and violence towards local Palestinians.
Damascus Gate and surrounding streets were relatively calm on Thursday afternoon.
It helped that barely any Palestinians were on the streets. After chaos in recent years, many of the area’s Arab residents stayed away.
The few that kept shops open in the morning had mostly closed them by mid-afternoon.
Ayman, a Palestinian in the Old City, said Palestinians were not to blame for violence in previous years.
“We are the ones being
provoked and persecuted,” he said.
“If I want to go to the Western Wall, I can’t.
“But they come to the holiest places for Muslims in Palestine, under police protection.
“Only 5 per cent or 10 per cent allow their children out on the street today. I am keeping mine home.”
Zeev, a student at a Jewish religious school who is originally from London, planned to attend the march and complained of not being able to walk through the Muslim Quarter.
“If the Arabs and Jews would just live peacefully, then a march like this wouldn’t be a provocation … I’ve been smashed up, kicked and have
had rocks thrown at me,” he said. “This is the Jewish land. We own this place.
“But [Palestinians] could even join this march, if they support Israel, although I’m sure barely any do.”
In 2021, the march was in part blamed for starting an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which led to the deaths of 12 Israelis and about 260 Palestinians.
The Gaza-based militant group urged Palestinians to confront marchers and warned Israel not to cross “red lines”.
Jerusalem’s police shut down city centre streets.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hero
of the country’s far right, was expected to attend, along with other far-right Israeli government ministers.
Mr Ben-Gvir’s wife visited Al Aqsa compound on Thursday morning. There were fears that the provocative march would spark violence in Israeli cities that have large Arab populations, as happened in 2021.
The march ended at the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism.
Gabi did not expect this year’s march to have consequences as dire as in 2021.
“But if the marchers enter the Al Aqsa Mosque and make provocations, there will probably be a quick reply,” he said.