Israeli Nationalists Chant Anti-Arab Slogans During State-Sponsored Jerusalem Day March
On May 14, 2026, thousands of Israeli nationalists participated in a state-sponsored march through Jerusalem’s Old City to mark the anniversary of Israel's capture and annexation of East Jerusalem. The event, funded by government ministries and the Jerusalem municipality, saw demonstrators chanting violent slogans such as "Death to Arabs" and "May your villages burn." The march culminated with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unfurling an Israeli flag at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a highly sensitive Islamic holy site. Tensions escalated as radical Jewish groups scuffled with remaining Palestinian residents, prompting a heavy police presence. Most Palestinians had closed their shops and left the area beforehand. Counter-protesters from the group "Standing Together" deployed hundreds of volunteers to protect Palestinians from potential violence. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also attended the rally. The incident highlights growing extremism in annual assertions of Jewish control over East Jerusalem and the erosion of the long-standing status quo at religious sites, drawing criticism from both Palestinian communities and some religious Jews who viewed the behavior as a desecration of God's name.
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