Tensions high in Jerusalem ahead of hardline Israeli march

Seventeen Palestinians arrested as far-right Israeli settler groups marched through occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.Israeli far-right nationalists began a flag-waving march through occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday that risks reigniting tensions with Palestinians and poses an early challenge for Israel’s new government.At least 17 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces, and dozens more were assaulted and forcibly removed from the Damascus Gate plaza leading to the Old City.Metal barriers were set up by Israeli police on the roads leading to Damascus Gate, which has been sealed off to prevent the entry of Palestinians.The so-called March of the Flags celebrates the anniversary of Israel’s 1967 occupation of the city’s eastern part.“The right to demonstrate is a right in all democracies,” said Israel’s Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev. Watch how this police officer greets the settlers with affection 👇 pic.twitter.com/MYYfV7yOc3— Jalal (@JalalAK_jojo) June 15, 2021But unlike previous years, the Gate has been locked, meaning that the march will not enter the Muslim Quarter in the Old City.Instead, the march will have to “leave back up the stairs and move outside the walls of the Old City into Jaffa Gate and go in that way,” Dekker said.“Palestinians will tell you this [march] is a major provocation,” full of “racist slogans against the Palestinians,” she added.“These are far-right Jewish settlers celebrating the occupation of east Jerusalem, and that is something that is incredibly inciteful.”Israeli forces closed off roads leading to Damascus Gate in occupied East Jerusalem, as others forced Palestinians on the steps of the gate leading into the Old City to leave.Videos shared on social media showed Israeli police forces setting up metal barricades, blocking off all the paths to the gate.قوات الاحتلال تغلق الشوارع المؤدية لباب العامود وتمنع المقدسيين من الوصول إليه تمهيداً لمسيرة الأعلام الاستيطانية pic.twitter.com/PjGxlRrkkD— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) June 15, 2021Translation: Israeli forces close streets leading to Damascus Gate and prevent Jerusalemites from reaching it in preparation for the settlers’ ‘Flags March’. I am old, they took my children and put them in prison.”Palestinian activists launched incendiary balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip towards areas in southern Israel.“The kites are in response to the provocative flag march in East Jerusalem on Tuesday,” a Palestinian activist who identified himself as Abu Houzayfa told Anadolu Agency.The incendiary balloons or kites contain flammable material or oil-soaked rags that may ignite fires once they land on crops.The Israeli fire brigade said the balloons caused at least 20 blazes in fields in the Israeli towns surrounding the Gaza Strip.Palestinian media reported that Israeli police forces prevented Palestinians from reaching Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City.Videos posted on social media showed Israeli police installing metal barricades as Palestinians were blocked from going through the barriers.الاحتلال يمنع الأهالي الوصول لباب العامود هذه الأثناء pic.twitter.com/eeA1HE0nR4— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) June 15, 2021Translation: Israeli forces prevent Palestinians from reaching Damascus Gate.