Israelis mark annexation of East Jerusalem in annual parade
Israelis mark annexation of East Jerusalem in annual parade
Israelis on Sunday marched through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, chanting provocative slogans including that al-Aqsa mosque "will be burned".
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Young Jews waving Israeli flags and chanting nationalist slogans filed through the Muslim Quarter [AFP]
Israelis marched through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City on Sunday to mark Israel's 1967 seizure of the Palestinian-dominated eastern half of Jerusalem.
The annual procession came as Palestinian Muslims prepare to begin observing the fasting month of Ramadan, when many visit the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City.
The march passed through the Muslim Quarter before arriving at the Western Wall, directly adjacent to the al-Aqsa compound.
Groups of young Jews waving Israeli flags and chanting nationalist slogans filed through the Muslim quarter.
A number chanted "the temple will be built and the mosque will be burned" and "Mohammed is dead", Israeli daily Haaretz .
Two Israelis participating in the march were arrested for making racist remarks to Palestinians, police said.
"We have more than 2,000 police just for the Jerusalem Day events," Israeli police spokesman Asi Aharoni said ahead of the march.
At Damascus Gate, heavy security measures included barricades, while nearby cafes catering to tourists were closed.
Some shopkeepers closed their stores as a precaution.
"Last year they put glue to destroy my lock," said shopkeeper Rimon Himo as he wrapped tape around his lock. "I learned my lesson."
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The annual march is usually attended by religious Zionist youth, often turning into a source of tension in the Old City, reported Haaretz.
While Israelis see the day as celebrating the "reunification" of Jerusalem, Palestinians view the 1967 war as resulting in the seizure of their land, referring to it as the Naksa [the setback].
"For 49 years Jerusalem [has been] free of its shackles," Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. "We won't return to a reality of a divided and wounded city."
Israeli media also quoted him as saying that "we will continue to build Jerusalem for all its residents".
Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move deemed illegal by the international community.
Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, whereas Israelis see all of Jerusalem as their capital.
The future status of Jerusalem is among the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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