Tensions in Jerusalem before the “march of flags”

Hours before the march, Israeli far-right tenor Itamar Ben Gvir went to the esplanade of Mosques, holy places amid Israeli-Palestinian tensions in the old city of East Jerusalem, occupied Palestinian part since 1967 by Israel.

The third holiest place in Islam is the holiest place in Judaism under its name Temple Mount.

I have come to support the security forces and hope that the police will bring order to Temple Mount […]. I have come today to prove that we, the State of Israel, are sovereign herehe launched.

Under the historical status quo, non -Muslims could go to the esplanade, enter the same door and at specific times, but could not pray there. In recent years, however, a growing number of Jews, mostly nationalists, have been secretly praying there, an act that has been denounced as a teasing of the Palestinians.

About 1,800 non-Muslims, mostly tourists but also Israelis, visited the esplanade on Sunday, police said.

Stones were hurled by Palestinians at Israeli forces controlling access to the sanctuary, according to witnesses.

At Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Muslim quarter of the Old City, brief clashes broke out between Palestinian and Israeli police and several Palestinians were arrested, according to an AFP photographer in the area.

According to authorities, the march will take place according to the planned route, as it has been for decadesthat is, passing through the Old City through the Damascus Gate, but not deviating from the esplanade of the Mosques.

Most of the traders closed the shop in the Muslim quarter and the residents remained at home. On the street, dozens of young Jewish nationalists sang and danced while waving Israeli flags, an AFP journalist said.

did you see that No respect. If the stores are closed we are not afraid, but because we know there are no customers now […]launched Sami, a merchant.

Facing the Israelis, some demonstrators waved Palestinian flags.

It is natural to wave the flag of Israel in the capital of Israel […]but I ask the participants of the march to respect the instructions of the policesaid Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday.

Fearing slippery, police mobilized 3,000 officers for the march Yom Jerusalem where the day of jerusalemmark for Israel the reunification of the Holy City, after the conquest and annexation of its eastern part.

Israel will pay a heavy priceaccording to Hamas

Palestinians seek to make East Jerusalem the capital of a future state.

Last year, on the day scheduled for march of flags According to the Hebrew calendar and after days of Israeli-Palestinian violence in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian movement Hamas in power in Gaza launched salvos of rockets into Israel, a prelude to an 11-day war in between the two camps.

This year, Palestinian groups threatened again answer in the event of violence during the march, or even if the participants go to the esplanade.

We will not hesitate to use all possible means […] Israel will pay a heavy pricewarned on Saturday Ghazi Hamad, a figure of Islamist Hamas.

But according to Shlomo Mofaz, a security analyst and former senior Israeli military intelligence officer, Hamas has no interest in starting a new war […] because it focuses on rebuilding Gaza.

However, he said, violence with Palestinian injuries or deaths could motivate him, or other Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad, to take action. And add: for sure that Iran, a supporter of these groups and an enemy of Israel, encourage (them) to destroy the routine and launch rockets at Israel.

The UN chief mediator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, urged Palestinians and Israelis to avoid a new multiplication.