This annual Jerusalem parade commemorates Israel’s occupation of the Old City in the 1967 Middle East war and draws thousands of attendees through its narrow, stone streets.
But for the Palestinians, the march represents a blatant provocation and a violation of one of the few places in the city that still retains a strong Arab character. Increasing Israeli settlement activities encircle the city.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has so far refused to accept any changes to the flags march despite calls from some of his coalition allies to rethink the march.
“The flags march will be organized according to the planned route, as it has been for decades,” his office said on Friday, adding that he would review the situation regularly in the coming hours.
Frequent clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli police at Al-Aqsa Mosque in April, during the month of Ramadan, with Muslims angered by the increase in the number of Jewish visitors to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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