Israeli Nationalists Parade Through Old City to Mark Capture of East Jerusalem
Main Events and Reactions Surrounding Jerusalem Day Parade
By Alexander Cornwell
Overview of the Parade
JERUSALEM, May 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of Israeli nationalists will march on Thursday through the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's walled Old City under heavy security, in an annual event marking Israel's capture of the city's east in a war nearly six decades ago.
Significance for Jewish Nationalists and Palestinians
The parade, the main celebration of Jerusalem Day, has become a show of force for Jewish nationalists but is seen by Palestinians as a blatant provocation aimed at undermining their ties to the city.
Personal Accounts
"Jerusalem is our holy city. It is our holy city forever," said Shira Gefen, a 53-year-old Israeli who travelled to Jerusalem from her home near Haifa for the event.
Security Measures and Restrictions
Israeli authorities deployed thousands of police officers, some in riot gear, in Jerusalem, including at Damascus Gate, the main gateway to the Old City's historic Muslim quarter.
The police threw up barricades around the Damascus Gate area, preventing Palestinians who do not live in the Old City from entering. Palestinian shopkeepers in the Old City said they were forced to close ahead of the parade.
Historical and Religious Context
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, a move that the United Nations and most countries have not recognised.
Tensions and Controversies
The march frequently inflames tensions as ultra-nationalist Jewish groups stream through Palestinian areas of the Old City. In the past, crowds of demonstrators, including many youths, have chanted slogans such as "Death to Arabs".
Religious Sites and Symbolism
The parade's path starts in West Jerusalem and ends at the Western Wall, a remnant of an ancient retaining structure revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, a vestige of their faith's two ancient temples. Muslims refer to that area as Al Haram Al Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, the third holiest site in Islam.
Palestinian Perspective
Palestinians view the Jerusalem Day procession as part of a broader campaign to bolster Jewish presence across the city to their detriment.
They have long sought East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
(Reporting by Alexander CornwellEditing by Gareth Jones)
