On Wednesday, on so-called Jerusalem Day, thousands of Israeli nationalists marched through the Old City of Jerusalem, shouting “Death to Arabs” and anti-Islamic slogans. The right-wing extremist security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir insisted that the march, which commemorates the conquest of East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967, lead through the Muslim Quarter to the Western Wall on the Temple Mount, the holiest place on earth for Jews.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, but the annexation of East Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. The Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, see the march as a provocation.
The police said they deployed 3,000 security personnel and assured that the march would not lead to the Temple Mount itself, with the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is holy to Muslims. Buses brought numerous young Jews to the Old City, who crowded through the Damascus Gate. Palestinian businessmen had closed their shops.
Just outside the gate, dozens of young Israelis surrounded a journalist wearing a vest with the word “press” written on it and threw plastic bottles at him. They fought with police officers who tried to keep them at bay. Police also arrested Palestinians and led them away with their hands tied behind their backs.
Counter-protests were planned throughout the day. An Israeli group called Tag Meir sent volunteers through the emptying streets of the city before the march to distribute flowers to Christian and Muslim residents of the Old City.