Thousands of Israeli police deploy in Jerusalem ahead of Flag Day march

JERUSALEM: Israeli police deployed in Jerusalem ahead of the annual flag day procession. The event marks Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem in 1967 and has previously led to clashes.

The march this year takes place as the war in Gaza approaches the start of its ninth month, adding to concerns of wider violence.

Tens of thousands of marchers carrying blue and white Israeli flags are expected to parade through the narrow streets of the Old City, where many Palestinian shopkeepers shutter their businesses for fear of racist violence.

A police spokesperson said more than 3,000 police would be on duty to “maintain the routine of life as much as possible.”

“Israelis proceeding through Israel with Israeli flags is not incendiary, it’s just a national holiday that’s going to be taking place,” he said.

Israel considers all of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem, which it seized in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognized internationally, as the “eternal and undivided” capital of the Jewish state.

Palestinians see the march as a blatant provocation aimed at undermining their claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Last year, the event saw groups of Jewish youths chant slogans including “Death to Arabs!“

The walled Old City of Jerusalem, home to some of the holiest sites of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions, has been a regular flashpoint for trouble, often from visitors from outside the area, where the three communities live in close proximity among the narrow alleyways.

Furthermore, the deployment of Israeli police highlights the complexities surrounding Jerusalem Flag Day, as it often intersects with geopolitical tensions and religious sensitivities. The presence of law enforcement personnel is essential to mitigate potential security risks and maintain public order during the march.
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