Tensions Rise in East Jerusalem as Thousands of Ultrnationalists March on Jerusalem Day
On Monday, several thousand Israeli ultranationalists, primarily adolescents, marched through East Jerusalem, a region that has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. The march was marked by chants calling for violence against Arabs, with participants physically and verbally assaulting the few Palestinian shop owners who had decided to keep their businesses open amidst the unrest.
Among the protesters was an Israeli parliamentarian, who joined a group that stormed a UNRWA complex. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides crucial humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, but Israel has accused the agency of having connections to Hamas, heightening the tensions on the ground.
The tumultuous event unfolded just before the official start of the traditional Jerusalem Day parade, which commemorates Israel's military occupation of East Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967, and the subsequent unilateral annexation of the city. The parade is characterized by a distinct division of participants along gender lines, with men and women starting from different areas of the city before converging at the entrance of the Old City.
Last year, the march resulted in the arrest of eighteen individuals for assaults targeting Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem. In preparation for this year's event, the Israeli city administration, which organizes the parade with a budget of 170,000 euros, increased the number of officers on duty, aiming to control the potential for violence and maintain order.
Despite the heightened security measures, the march was a flashpoint for longstanding tensions in the region, highlighting the challenges of coexistence in a city divided by conflict. The events of the day serve as a stark reminder of the volatile relationship between Israeli ultranationalists and the Palestinian community, amid ongoing debates over rights, territory, and historical grievances.
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