Tensions erupted in Jerusalem on Monday when thousands of Israeli ultranationalists paraded through the Muslim quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City, singing inflammatory chants like “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn” during the annual Jerusalem Day parade. The parade marks Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war a victory that is commemorated by many Israelis but regarded as occupation by Palestinians.
Palestinian stores closed early in preparation for clashes, and heavy police infilled the narrow alleys. Tour buses transported ultranationalist Jews from all over the country, including settlements in the occupied West Bank. As Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to keep a “united Jerusalem,” his right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound, fueling tensions by claiming Jews’ right to pray at the compound, negating long-standing religious understandings.
The demonstrations spilled over into other sectors, as well. A delegation led by Israeli legislator Yulia Malinovsky forcibly entered a UNRWA compound in east Jerusalem, demanding it be converted to a Jewish settlement. UN officials decried the action, pointing out that the compound has been largely vacant since January because of staff safety issues.
Following attempts at mediation by peace groups, various cases of harassment were reported, such as verbal abuse at Palestinian women and destruction of neighborhood shops. Police reported detaining numerous people in what they described as the “Dance of Flags,” reporting that they moved quickly to avert more violence.
While most Israelis view Jerusalem Day as a national holiday, critics say the march only grows more emblematic of surging extremism. Previous editions of the event have been the source of widespread unrest, such as an 11-day war in Gaza in 2021. With cries of hatred ringing through ancient streets once more, the march highlighted the city’s lasting status as a hotbed of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
