Some Israelis deplore the decision both to further delay the flag march so as not to have it coincide with the Palestinians’ “victory march” on June 10, and to change its route so as to avoid offending Muslims. The Flag Parade will take place on June 15, not on June 10, because that is when the Palestinians will be holding their “victory march.” Holding both marches on the same day, and in the same parts of the city, would greatly increase the likelihood of inter-communal clashes. The assumption is that the marchers will not be taking the traditional route through the Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter. The proposal says that the parade can go ahead “in a framework that will be agreed upon by police and organizers,” according to a statement.
In the end, a compromise proposal was brought forth on June 8 by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and signed off on by the security cabinet. There was some discussion of continuing to hold the parade, but having it follow a different route.
But police then refused to authorize the route, because of fears of violence by Arabs who had threatened to attack the marchers. This year the march, originally scheduled for May 10, was postponed because of Hamas rockets, and re-scheduled for June 10. On the original Jerusalem Day this year Israelis were all set to take part in a “flag parade” that winds through part of Jerusalem’s Old City, including passage through the Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter. The story of the dueling parades is here. Eastern Jerusalem Arabs have called for a “victory march” to be held on June 10, following the very route of what was to have been Israel’s Jerusalem Day flag parade.
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