Far-Right Israeli March in Jerusalem Sparks Violence, Ethnic Chants

The annual Jerusalem Day Flag March, marking Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, saw tens of thousands of far-right Israeli Jews chanting slogans like "Death to Arabs" and engaging in violent confrontations with Palestinians, Israeli left-wing activists, and journalists. The march followed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a highly sensitive site, where he declared harsh penalties for "terrorists" and expressed support for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, exacerbating tensions. During the event, ultranationalist youths harassed Palestinian shopkeepers, vandalized shops, and spat on Palestinians and journalists, while police largely refrained from intervening or making arrests, citing the youth of many marchers. The violence and rhetoric drew condemnation from Israeli opposition figures like Yair Golan, who characterized the incidents as hatred and racism that betray the values of Judaism and Zionism. The march has a history of escalating conflict, having contributed to violence in previous years and remains a flashpoint in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly given Jerusalem's contested status and significance to both peoples. The marchers displayed nationalist banners and engaged in provocative acts within Muslim neighborhoods, deepening divisions amid nearly two years of ongoing war in Gaza.