Jerusalem braces for clashes as flag march nears

• Author: JEREMY SHARON
• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Date: 15 June 2021

The event was scheduled, as in every year, for Jerusalem Day which fell on May 10 but was cancelled due to severe tensions in the capital which resulted in the recent conflict in Gaza after Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem later that day.

New Public Security Minister Omer Barlev said on Monday afternoon that the police were well-prepared for the march, against a background of ongoing tensions in east Jerusalem and calls from Hamas for Arab Israelis and east Jerusalem residents to confront the procession.

The route of the march usually starts at Damascus Gate and wends its way through the Muslim Quarter and out to the Western Wall plaza in the Jewish Quarter.

The approved route for Tuesday's march will see the parade dance in front of the Damascus Gate, but then proceed outside the Old City's walls to the Jaffa Gate, down David Street which divides the Christian and Armenian Quarters and on down Chain Gate Street which divides the Muslim and Jewish Quarters and into the Western Wall plaza.

Although the route does not go through the Muslim Quarter, David Street and Chain Gate Street do however run straight through the so-called Arab market of Palestinian vendors and tradesmen.

Following evening meetings with Police Commissioner Yaakov (Kobi) Shabtai and senior officials in the IDF, Shin Bet and National Security Council, Barlev said he found "that the police are well prepared and a great effort was made to protect the delicate fabric of live and public safety."

Asked about the event in a Labor faction meeting Monday, Barlev said: "The flag march will take place...Jerusalem is Israel's eternal capital. In a democracy, you may and it is important to demonstrate and hold marches as long as they follow the law, and the police decides."

There will be at least 2,000 police personnel securing the march.

On Monday evening, a Hamas spokesman threatened that the flag march could spark a new round of conflict "to protect al-Aqsa and Jerusalem," and called on all Arab-Israelis and east Jerusalem residents to confront those participating in the march, according to a report by Channel 13 News.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement on Tuesday stating that it will respond "with full force to the provocations of the settlers in the Holy City," ahead of the Jerusalem Flag Day march being held later in the evening.

PIJ added that it will serve to stand as an "impenetrable dam" towards anyone who tries to harm the al-Aqsa mosque, known as the Temple Mount to Jews.

"The...