Israeli Officials Criticize Nationalists After Chaos on Jerusalem Day

MAY 29 2022·Updated DEC 29 2022

Story

Image credit: AFP/Getty Images [via NBC News]

The Facts

On Mon., senior Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev, called for right-wing nationalist organizations Lehava and La Familia to be declared terrorist organizations.
wsj
This comes a day after thousands of Israelis marched through Jerusalem, including through the Old City's Muslim Quarter, to mark Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the capture of the Old City and unification of Jerusalem in 1967 - an annexation not recognized internationally.
NPR
During the "flag march," some groups reportedly raided Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem while shouting "Death to Arabs," and "Let your village burn down," as well as allegedly attacking Palestinian residents.
NBC
Meanwhile, clashes also broke out ahead of the march, with Palestinians reportedly throwing chairs and bottles, and barricading themselves inside the Al Aqsa Mosque to throw rocks and fireworks at roughly 2.5k Israelis who visited the site. Israelis, in turn, were accused of using pepper spray, while police reportedly used pepper spray, rubber bullets and clubs to disperse Palestinian crowds.
Breitbart
Tensions surrounding the annual march - which is considered a provocation by Palestinians - typically run high, and Israeli security forces were on alert for violence. Last year, rockets fired by Hamas into Israel during the event helped prompt an 11-day war.
Al Jazeera
The march was supported by Israel's PM Naftali Bennett, though he implored participants to be responsible as tensions have peaked between Israelis and Palestinians following several incidents of violence this year, including the recent killing of Al Jazeera journalist Abu Akleh.
NPR

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The Spin

Pro-Palestine narrative

The Israeli flag march, which has become an annual event for Zionist extremists, is a supremacist demonstration aimed at provoking Palestinians and asserting control. Settlers and ultra-nationalists use the day to desecrate Muslim holy sites and attack Palestinian residents; all under the protection of the Israeli police.

MSN

Pro-Israel narrative

The flag march isn't about provoking Palestinians or stirring hate; it's a longstanding tradition of pilgrimage and a celebration of love for Jerusalem. Just because it has been politicized by a few groups inciting hate - which Israel has condemned and is rightly cracking down on - doesn't mean the whole tradition, which is largely peaceful, should be tainted.

The Jerusalem Post