While all eyes are on Gaza, another war is being fought for control of Jerusalem. Hundreds of Israeli police officers mobilised Monday for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the city's total conquest by Israel in 1967. It’s an opportunity for Israeli nationalists to reaffirm their hold on the city – and, increasingly, for scenes of violence against Palestinians in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem.

‘A notice of imminent destruction’: Israel’s home demolitions in East Jerusalem reach record numbers | Watch

 

 

 

Thousands of Israelis have joined a state-funded march through the Muslim quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem, where large groups chanted racist slogans including “Gaza is ours”, “death to the Arabs” and “may their villages burn”.

The annual march, paid for and promoted by the Jerusalem city government, celebrates Israel’s capture and occupation of East Jerusalem and its holy sites in the war of 1967. The Israeli takeover is not recognised internationally.

The Jerusalem municipality advertises the event, known as the flag march, as a “festive procession”, part of a broader programme of events celebrating the “liberation” of the city.

Thousands of Israelis join violent, racist march through Jerusalem’s Muslim quarter | Israel | The Guardian

3 hours ago, bannork said:

Thousands of Israelis have joined a state-funded march through the Muslim quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem, where large groups chanted racist slogans including “Gaza is ours”, “death to the Arabs” and “may their villages burn”.

The march has been marred by racism and attacks on Palestinians for years, and is preceded by a campaign of violence in the Old City that in effect shuts down Palestinian majority areas, particularly in the Muslim Quarter.

From before midday on Monday small groups of young Israeli men attacked and harassed shopkeepers and passers-by inside the city, spitting at women in hijabs, stealing from cafes, ransacking a bookshop and entering at least one home by force.

Thousands of Israelis join violent, racist march through Jerusalem’s Muslim quarter | Israel | The Guardian

There were also quite a few moderate Israeli, who tried to intervene and protect the Palestinians, attacked by these extremists.

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, to condemn in the strongest terms the deplorable and offensive violations against the Palestinian people that took place in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. 

The UAE stresses that the continued attacks by Israeli extremists and their incitement to hatred and violence constitute a systematic extremist campaign, that not only targets the Palestinian people but the entire international community, further escalating tensions at a time when efforts should be focused on ending the ongoing tragedy in the Gaza Strip.

The UAE calls on the Israeli government to assume full responsibility, condemn these hostile acts, hold perpetrators accountable without exception to ministers and officials, and take urgent steps to prevent the exploitation of Jerusalem for agendas of violence, extremism and incitement.

UAE summons Israeli ambassador over violations in Occupied Jerusalem

Long Live Israel. All the enemies of Israel and the Jews must be destroyed.