Peak alert ahead of the flag parade: Thousands of troops deployed in the Old City
Thousands of policemen and border guards are deployed throughout Jerusalem, ahead of the march through the Nablus Gate to the Western Wall. Clashes broke out this morning after dozens of Palestinians barricaded themselves in one of the mosques, and dozens of preventive arrests were made across the country.
Shlomi Heller, Barak Ravid, Yaki Adamkar, Amir Bohbot and Yifat Rosenberg
29/05/2022
Sunday, 29 May 2022, 15:00 Updated: 15:27
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About 3,000 policemen and border guards are securing the flag parade that will take place in the coming hours (Sunday) in central Jerusalem. The parade is expected to pass through the Nablus Gate and Hagai Street, and end at the Western Wall.
The forces began to deploy in the capital yesterday and secured a series of events to mark Jerusalem Day, including White Night parties and the celebration of the prophet Samuel.
Several dozen Jews climbed the Temple Mount this morning, including MK Itamar Ben Gvir, who is accompanied by heavy security. Earlier, several dozen Palestinians barricaded themselves in one of the mosques and began throwing objects at police forces, who dispersed the rioters and kept them away from the Jews. And calls for protests against the immigrants, and fireworks are also recorded.
More on Walla!
Bennett assumes that the parade of flags will take place as usual - will end at the Western Wall and will not pass through the Temple Mount
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Jews in the Old City, this morning (Photo: Official website, Arnon Segal)
During the morning, the police carried out about twenty preventive arrests of suspects across the country, and prevented a number of buses carrying dozens of young people from the Umm al-Fahm area from reaching Jerusalem on suspicion of plotting to disrupt the event.
Police also arrested several rioters and detained a number involved in clashes that developed between visitors and security forces, which included throwing bottles and chairs in the Temple Mount area.
Record alert.
The flag parade in Jerusalem, last year (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, called for the hoisting of Palestinian flags.
"All the options on the table, we are preparing for any scenario," he warned.
"We are in an obsolete occupation, the occupying forces want to undo the achievements of the Wall Guard but we say clearly - the hands of the clock will not go back."
He referred to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount and said that "this is our property, we have clear options in front of us to fight for attempts to space it."
The coordinator of government operations in the territories, Major General Rassan Aliyan, came out in a Facebook post against the incitement on social networks and Hamas' attempts to call for violence and terrorism around Jerusalem.
He wanted to clarify that "the flag parade has been going on for over 30 years, its route is not new, and so is the status quo in Jerusalem that remains intact."
Yesterday, tens of thousands of visitors filled the city streets, crowds marched to the Western Wall through the alleys of the Old City, some waved Israeli flags and gathered in the Nablus Gate plaza.
Friction was recorded at the Nablus gate during a Palestinian detention for inspection by police, and a young Jew was reported to have spat at a Muslim passer-by.
Bennett received a comprehensive update on police preparations for the events, with an emphasis on intelligence efforts and reinforcements on the ground.
The discussion was attended by Minister of Internal Security Amar Bar-Lev, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, Jerusalem District Commander, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary and other officials. "At all levels, over the weekend and during Sunday."
MK Itamar Ben Gvir (Religious Zionism) announced that he would ascend the Temple Mount despite the tensions. "Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman, in cooperation with the Shin Bet, IDF officials, and after intelligence and operational preparations to secure his aliyah and other visitors."
The parade also sparked controversy at a cabinet meeting held early last week, when a debate ensued over the outline after a heartbreak allowed marchers to pass through the Nablus Gate.
Meretz ministers protested the decision and called it provocative, while New Hope ministers expressed support for the outline.
In a conversation with Blue and White activists, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz also expressed support for the march: "We are allowed and can do whatever march we want in our capital city," he claimed, "We have no intention of violating any status quo on the Temple Mount. Intentional friction. "
Hamas and Islamic Jihad held an emergency meeting.
The flag parade in Jerusalem, last year (Photo: Reuven Castro)
On Thursday, the US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, spoke on the phone with Minister Bar-Lev and expressed concern that the march could lead to an escalation in Jerusalem and the territories, according to a senior Israeli official.
Bar-Lev told the U.S. ambassador that he understands the concern and personally monitors police readiness to maintain order during the march, and that police are working to prevent friction or provocations.
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