JERUSALEM – Israel’s new government gave the green light today for a controversial march by Jewish nationalists through annexed east Jerusalem, despite concerns over renewed tensions with the Palestinians.
Authorising the march set for today, Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev’s office said: “The police are ready and we will do everything in our power to preserve the delicate thread of coexistence.”
The march was originally due to take place last Thursday but was delayed due to Israeli police opposition to the route and warnings from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The outgoing government put off the march, rescheduling it to today.
“The right to demonstrate is a right in all democracies,” said Bar-Lev, part of the new administration which took office after a vote in parliament on Sunday.
The so-called “March of the Flags” represents an early test for the new government.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned the march as a provocation.
“We warn of the dangerous repercussions that may result from the occupying power’s intention to allow extremist Israeli settlers to carry out the Flag March in occupied Jerusalem tomorrow,” he tweeted in English.
Shtayyeh said it was “a provocation and aggression against our people, Jerusalem and its sanctities that must end”.
Rallies by far-right Jewish groups last month raised tensions in flashpoint areas of Jerusalem, prompting a police intervention in Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
That triggered rocket attacks by Hamas and Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
The 11-day conflict killed 260 Palestinians including some fighters, the Gaza authorities said.
In Israel, 13 people were killed, including a soldier, by rockets fired from Gaza, the Israeli police and army said. – AFP, June 15, 2021
