Police prevented far-right Israeli protesters from marching to occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, amid heightened tensions in the contested city following days of violence.
Hundreds of nationalists waved Israeli flags as police officers blocked their path to Damascus Gate, a gathering point for Palestinians and a gateway to the Old City.
Before the demonstration, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that the security forces would prevent far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir from reaching Damascus Gate.
“I will not allow a political provocation by Ben-Gvir to endanger IDF [Israeli military] soldiers and Israel Police officers,” said the right-wing prime minister.
Mr Ben-Gvir joined protesters at the start point in West Jerusalem.
Police said they did not give organisers permission to hold the rally, due to the late notice.
The rally follows more than 170 people being wounded since Friday around Al Aqsa Mosque, according to Palestinian medics, the third holiest site in Islam which is also sacred to Jews.
Police have used rubber bullets, tear gas and batons against worshippers at the holy site, while the force said “a few” officers have been wounded by Palestinians throwing rocks and fireworks.
A number of passengers were hurt on Sunday when Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli buses travelling to the Old City, police said.
The Jerusalem flag rally comes a day after Israeli bombed Gaza for the first time in months, in response to militants firing a rocket from the Palestinian coastal enclave.
The unfolding violence has prompted the UAE and Jordan to summon Israeli diplomats in their capitals.
The US State Department on Tuesday said Washington was dispatching envoys to the region, to discuss “ending the cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.”
At least 14 Palestinians have been killed this month by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, as the army carries out raids across the territory.
Such military action follows 14 people being killed in four attacks across Israel, which were perpetrated by Palestinians from the West Bank or Arab-Israelis in recent weeks.
Wednesday’s rally is akin to an annual parade held by Israeli nationalists to celebrate their military’s 1967 capture of East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Day parade last year followed weeks of Palestinian protest around East Jerusalem, during which hundreds of demonstrators were wounded.
Last year’s rally came to an abrupt end when sirens warned of incoming rocket fire from Gaza, marking the start of an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants.
The recent spike in tensions comes as Jerusalem becomes the focal point for religious festivities. Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, Jews are marking the week-long Passover holiday, and Christians are on the cusp of more Easter events.
Earlier on Wednesday Jewish worshippers gathered at the Western Wall for a priestly blessing, a Passover tradition. The site stands below Al Asqa and is the holiest place where Jews can pray.
Jews are allowed to visit the Al Aqsa compound, also known as Temple Mount, but not to pray there.
Such access has continued during Ramadan but is expected to be halted for the final days of the Muslim holy month, in keeping with previous years.
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WITHIN%20SAND
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20JustClean%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20with%20offices%20in%20other%20GCC%20countries%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20160%2B%20with%2021%20nationalities%20in%20eight%20cities%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20online%20laundry%20and%20cleaning%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2430m%20from%20Kuwait-based%20Faith%20Capital%20Holding%20and%20Gulf%20Investment%20Corporation%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 10am:
Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)
Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog
Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan
Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)
Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)
Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)
Court 1
Starting at 10am:
Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska
Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh
Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet
Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)
Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage
Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse
Court 2
Starting at 10am:
Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang
Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka
Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic
Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri
Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova
Court 3
Starting at 10am:
Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang
Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar
Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Contracted list
Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
