On Jerusalem Day, clashes and arrests in Old City

On Jerusalem Day, clashes and arrests in Old City

Palestinian demonstrators confront celebrating Israelis; thousands take to the streets to mark holidayBy GAVRIEL FISKE May 8, 2013, 6:26 pm 0



Thousands of Jewish Israelis wave Israeli flags, celebrating Jerusalem Day by walking the streets of Jerusalem, through Damascus Gate on their way to the Western Wall, on May 8, 2013. (photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90)RELATED TOPICS

JERUSALEM DAYDAMASCUS GATEJERUSALEM POLICEMORE ON THIS STORY

Police clashed with Palestinians holding an unregistered demonstration outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City on Wednesday afternoon, dispersing the crowd and arresting 10 people.

There was a large crowd gathered outside the gate, chanting Islamist and Palestinian nationalist slogans. After the group began marching toward a nearby group of Israelis, who were holding a rally marking Jerusalem Day, mounted and regular police moved to break up the demonstration.

Tens of thousands of Jerusalem Day celebrators, most of them teenagers, participated in this year’s event, which started in downtown Jerusalem, then circumnavigated the Old City before arriving at the Western Wall, via the Damascus Gate and the Arab Quarter.

Jerusalem Day, which honors Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem and unification of the city during the 1967 Six Day War, is celebrated by the national religious community with a mass march and rally in and around the Old City. The event often leads to confrontations with Palestinians and a heavy security presence in area.

At the central Jerusalem Day ceremony held at Ammunition Hill, President Shimon Peres lauded the city for its multiculturalism.

“”Jerusalem has mosques and churches, Israel protects and will protect them all. Israel will protect all of Jerusalem, old and new, friends and strangers. Israel will protect their freedom and security. You can hear the same prayer from the Western Wall, from the mosques and from the churches for peace in our ancient, holy city. Peace between countries. Peace between religions. Peace between nations. Our ears are open to peace. We know that our army can protect us from any threat and no threat will weaken our desire for peace.”

Roads were closed around the Old City and nearby neighborhoods in order to accommodate the marchers.

Merav Ceren contributed to this report.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/on-jerusalem-day-clashes-and-arrests-in-old-city/