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An estimated 70,000 have taken part in marches across Jerusalem to mark Jerusalem Day. Whilst most of the marches passed along peacefully, minor clashes were reported between extremist Jews and Palestinians, which led to light injuries. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the actions of a minority of extremists who committed violence and shouted inflammatory remarks during the march.
The annual march celebrates the reunification of the city following the Six-Day War in 1967 and the first time in almost 1,900 years that the Jews had sovereignty over the Old City of Jerusalem. This year marked the 55th anniversary of the city’s unification. The March also coincided with the Memorial Day for members of the Ethiopian community who died on their journey to Israel.
Although the march occurred relatively peacefully, extremist groups, both Palestinian and Jewish, did cause some violence and property damage. Anticipating the 2,600 Jewish visitors to Temple Mount, a small group of Palestinians had waited inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque to attack the march, throwing stones and letting off fireworks, but were quickly thwarted by the police, without causing injuries. Jewish members of the march who recited prayers or prostrated themselves on Temple Mount were removed from the site by Israeli Police.
Several minor clashes did occur between youths on both sides, with 13 people being treated for light injuries and 60 people being detained. Furthermore, known Jewish extremist groups Lahava and La Familia joined the march. They reportedly sang racist songs and chanted anti-Palestinian slogans, as well as clashed with police, throwing stones and destroying the car of a Palestinian resident near the New Gate. Violence also occurred outside the Old City, with clashes between Jews and Palestinians in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
In a statement after the march, Prime Minister Bennett said that he directed security forces “to show zero tolerance for violence or provocations” by extremist groups including La Familia and Lahava. He added that “the overwhelming majority of participants have come to celebrate but unfortunately there is a minority that has come to set the area ablaze”.
A Hamas spokesman also released a statement after the march, in which they condoned violence shown by Palestinian extremists, calling it “heroism and a firm stand in face of the occupation”.
