"There is a significant safety system with a large number of braking points": The Jerusalem District Police is prepared and alert for Jerusalem Day events, especially the flag parade that will pass tomorrow (Thursday) through Damascus Gate and Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall. 3,270 Border Police officers will guard all Jerusalem Day events.
Jerusalem District Commander Maj. Gen. Doron Turgeman commented on the police deployment, noting: "We completed the preparations with meticulous staff work and completed field patrols in which we passed through all the arenas. We also provide a preliminary response to rule out carbon and disturbances. The carbon aspect is central and we are preparing for it with a significant investment. There are 15 and another 37 excluded.
"Resolute and firm stance." Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and Jerusalem Police Commissioner Doron Turgeman, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"Our preliminary preparations are significant. No potential for disturbances is allowed to take place. Whatever we don't know how to prevent, we will react quickly. There is a significant set of safety with a large number of braking points to regulate the crowd. We are also preparing for protests with freedom of expression alongside the prevention of friction. We also have a consciousness room that works against monitoring incitement."
🇵🇸 أنت فلسطيني 🇵🇸
ارفع علمك وافتخر#ارفع_علمك pic.twitter.com/pOHWjpwL5A
— نساء من أجل فلسطين (@women4palestine) May 17, 2023
Commissioner Turgeman emphasized that the police are also preparing for the possibility of shooting at Jerusalem during Jerusalem Day: "Part of the preparation is practicing a situation of red alert and shooting with clinging to the wall, lying in place or sheltering nearby. We are in a sequence of alerts. There are alerts and we will act accordingly. There will be no flag parade on the Temple Mount."
Flag Parade (archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The police addressed false publications and incitement on social networks ahead of Jerusalem Day. Over the past few days, there has been increasing incitement on social networks in the context of Jerusalem Day events and the flag march, with cynical and unacceptable use of the Temple Mount. The publications include incitement and fake news, and are carried out mainly by terrorist elements and organizations, a significant portion of them outside the borders of the State of Israel.
Events, ceremonies and processions
The police clarified that: "There is no connection between the flag march and the Temple Mount and there is no change in the existing practice on the Temple Mount tomorrow and in general. The flag march will march tomorrow along the route that has been established for many years from the center of Jerusalem through the gates of the Old City to the Western Wall. Alongside it, many events, ceremonies and processions will be held in the city of Jerusalem as they do every year as part of Jerusalem Day events. Regardless of the flag march, visits to the Temple Mount will take place as usual according to the hours and rules of visitation, alongside Muslim prayers that will take place on the Temple Mount as usual. Any attempt to disturb the order or deviate from the visiting rules will be dealt with accordingly."
Heavy security arrangements at the Flag Parade (archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Police Commissioner RNZ Yaakov Shabtai: "For several days now, terrorist elements that prevent Iran, through Hezbollah, Hamas and radical Islamic Jihad, have been sowing false information on social networks about the route of the flag parade that will take place tomorrow in the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. The goal of these terrorist elements is clear, and it is to create wild incitement to terrorism against the tens of thousands of Israelis who will come to mark Jerusalem Day with a series of events. The walking route has been going on for decades and won't change tomorrow. Thousands of police officers and Border Police fighters will be deployed tomorrow for the sake of public safety and security in Jerusalem on the city's holiday. Just as we prepared for the month of Ramadan for Muslims and as we prepared for the Sabbath of Light for Christians, we are prepared for the benefit of the public that will take part in Jerusalem Day."
Will Hamas carry out its threats?, Photo: Reuters
Jerusalem District Commander Maj. Gen. Doron Turgeman addressed the issue in an assessment held this evening, adding: "Incitement on social networks is increasing through the use of lies, intimidation and slogans that have no basis in reality. We will continue to deal determinedly with the elements of incitement and anyone affected by it, inter alia through the cognitive war room, which will operate in an increased format and with the close cooperation of all bodies. We will not allow any terrorist organization to dictate the agenda in Jerusalem or in general. We must continue to act against those extremist fringes who try or call to violate law and order and thwart their malicious intentions with all the tools at our disposal.
"Jerusalem Day is a holiday for the city of Jerusalem and we will act to ensure that – to secure and protect everyone who participates in the various events, while maintaining security, order and the law and minimizing the disruption to everyone's daily routine as much as possible. This is how we operated during the month of Ramadan, the Easter holidays and the Nissan holidays, and this is how we will operate during Jerusalem Day events as well."
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