Monday, May 10, 2021
Hundreds of injuries in Jerusalem
Palestinians fight with Israeli police
The Palestinians are still hoping for a state of their own with East Jerusalem as their capital. On this Monday, however, Israeli Jews will march through the old town and celebrate their victory in the Six Day War a good 50 years ago. The mood is irritable, the arguments are often bloody.
Hundreds of people were injured in serious clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 50 people had to be hospitalized. Videos and pictures on the Internet showed Palestinians throwing objects at police officers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This reacted with stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas. A police spokeswoman said they would not allow “extremists” to endanger public safety.
The clashes occurred on what is known as Jerusalem Day. The country is celebrating the conquest of the Arab eastern part of Jerusalem – including the Old City during the Six Day War in 1967. The Palestinians, on the other hand, see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future own state.
In the afternoon, several Israelite flag marches through the old town are planned for this occasion. Fearing violence, the Israeli police forbade participants from visiting the Temple Mount. Hundreds of people were injured in violent clashes between protesting Palestinians and the Israeli police over the weekend.
Outstanding importance for Jews and Muslims
The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa Mosque is of outstanding importance for both Jews and Muslims. It is the third holiest site in Islam. At the same time, there used to be two Jewish temples, the last of which was destroyed by the Romans in 70. The Western Wall is a remnant of that ruined temple and the holiest place for the Jews.
The situation in the West Bank and in the Arabic-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem has been tense since the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan. Around 300 Palestinians and around 20 police officers had been injured in violent clashes in Jerusalem since Friday.
.