Before a controversial flag march in Jerusalem, confrontations broke out on the Temple Mount on Sunday. Palestinian believers clashed with Jewish visitors, police confirmed. According to the information, around 1,800 Jews visited the holy site. Some of them waved Israeli flags and prayed, in violation of the rules. They were removed from the Temple Mount. According to the police, there were some arrests after the confrontations.
The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there. The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the facility, but not to pray there.
For fear of an escalation, Israel’s police were put on high alert before the controversial flag march (from 3 p.m. CEST) in Jerusalem. Around 3,000 security forces are to secure the march of nationalist Israelis in the afternoon. It also passes through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, which the Palestinians see as a provocation.
The march has been held annually on Jerusalem Day for decades. It celebrates the Israeli conquest of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. The Palestinians see the Arabic-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the future capital of their own state.
