Jerusalem Day flag march to go ahead as usual, Netanyahu promises

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Jerusalem Day flag march will take place on its traditional route, which goes through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, ahead of a Likud faction meeting on Monday.

"The flag march will take place according to its route and its order and properly," said Netanyahu.

Hadash-Ta'al MK Ahmad Tibi condemned the announcement, stating "This government, the Netanyahu government, announced in the arrogant statement of the prime minister that the flag march will take place as usual. This is a government of lies and blood."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other ministers and MKs are expected to take part in the Flag March this year. Last week, the Returning to the Mount organization filed a request with the police to allow the march to enter the Temple Mount.

The Beyadenu movement has placed signs calling on 5,000 people to visit the Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day as well. The movement will march with Israeli flags to the entrance to the complex from the Jaffa Gate at 12 p.m. on Thursday and will then visit the Mount itself, where the display of Israeli flags is banned by police.

Palestinian terrorist groups threaten flag march

Palestinian terrorist groups have issued threats against the flag march in recent days, with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly demanding that the march not go through the Muslim Quarter as part of a ceasefire agreement reached with Israel on Saturday at the end of Operation Shield and Arrow.

In a statement last week, Hamas spokesperson Abd al-Latif al-Qanou warned that Hamas would "maintain the equation as imposed by the resistance" and would not allow alleged plans to "Judaize al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem" on Jerusalem Day.

In 2021, after weeks of violence in Jerusalem and especially on the Temple Mount, Palestinian terrorist groups also issued threats against the flag march, with the Netanyahu-led government and the defense establishment issuing a decision to block marchers from entering the Muslim Quarter after the march itself had already begun.

Despite the diversion of the march route, a number of rockets were fired toward Jerusalem during the march, sparking Operation Guardian of the Walls.

In 2022, the flag march took place on its usual route, marching through the Muslim Quarter, despite repeated threats by Palestinian terrorist groups. Small clashes broke out between marchers and residents of the Muslim Quarter during the march, but no further incidents occurred.