Holy City Divided on Jerusalem Day
The annual march of nationalist Israelis through east Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day on May 8 contributes to divisions and resentment in the Holy City, reports Jillian Kestler-D’Amours.
OLD CITY, EAST JERUSALEM — Jihad Hammad sat on a white, plastic chair outside his father’s antiques shop in Jerusalem’s Old City. To his left, four Israeli police officers manned metal barricades blocking the street. To his right, another checkpoint restricted movement even more a few meters down the road.
“They told us to close, but we stayed open. Why should we close? In every area there is a checkpoint. All the areas are closed. But we never close [the shop],” the 19-year-old told Al-Monitor, as groups of right-wing Israelis moved seamlessly through the two roadblocks and in front of the shop.
“[Israelis] go around as they want. We’re not allowed anything. They are allowed to do everything,” he added, shrugging. “But every day, there are settlers. It’s not a normal situation.”
Tens of thousands of right-wing Israeli nationalists celebrated Jerusalem Day on May 8. The annual event marks Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem, including the Old City, from Jordanian forces in 1967 and the “reunification” of the holy city.
