Inside Israel’s Flag March and the erasure of Palestinians in Jerusalem

AI Summary

Israel's Flag March has become a focal point for ultra-nationalist sentiments, leading to the erasure of Palestinian presence in Jerusalem through acts of violence and intimidation. The annual event highlights growing tensions as Palestinian residents are forced to retreat amid displays of dominance by far-right Israelis.

Inside Israel’s Flag March and the erasure of Palestinians in Jerusalem Jared Hillel on Fri, 05/15/2026 - 09:19 Ultra-nationalist Israelis project dominance and control through Third Temple imagery, racist chants and violence, as Palestinians are forced into invisibility in their own city A man waves an Israeli flag above crowds gathered at the Western Wall, next to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, during the annual Flag March on 14 May 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters) Off By midday, the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City in occupied East Jerusalem had largely emptied. "If I don't want to get attacked, I have to close," said Fadi, a 48-year-old shopkeeper, as he pulled a table inside and began lowering his metal shutter. Under normal circumstances, Thursdays are vibrant and bustling in the Old City. But ahead of the annual Flag March by ultra-nationalist Israelis - marking “Jerusalem Day” and deliberately routed through the Muslim Quarter - Palestinian residents and traders were forced to shut up shop, barricade themselves indoors, or leave the area altogether. Even so, groups of far-right settlers, donning their infamous knitted kippahs and long peyot, began marching through the streets hours before official festivities had started.  One group of teenagers walked past a still-open Palestinian store and began hurling insults. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This quickly escalated into physical attacks against two shopkeepers, who defended themselves with plastic chairs while “Protective Presence” activists attempted to de-escalate the situation.  The confrontation lasted no more than 30 seconds, but served as an early glimpse of the impunity these boys would be granted over the course of the day. 'Every year there is bullying, verbal hate and physical violence' - Yonatan Shargian, activist  Several business owners would go on to watch their shops be vandalised or ransacked, despite the heavy presence of armed police throughout the Old City.  The scene is repeated each year as Israel marks the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 and its subsequent “unification” with West Jerusalem - seized by Zionist militias during the 1948 Nakba. Increasingly dominated by the far right, the march has grown more volatile over the years, unfolding as a display of Israeli dominance and control over the city’s Palestinian population. Third Temple  While officers could have easily corralled the groups of boys - some no older than 12 years of age - Israeli forces have increasingly shown themselves unwilling to protect Palestinians or their property during the march.  Given this intentional neglect, activists have stepped in to fill the void.  “Every year there is bullying, verbal hate and physical violence," said Yonatan Shargian, an activist with Standing Together.  He added that while the number of activists has grown over the years in step with the rising violence, their presence is also intended to send a message that “this place belongs to all of us, and everyone deserves to feel safe and protected”. Israeli ultra-nationalists carry a flag bearing Third Temple imagery as they march through the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem on 14 May 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Not far from the crowds that swept through the Muslim Quarter, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, alongside hundreds of settlers.  The far-right politician then brandished an Israeli flag and declared “The Temple Mount is in our hands", invoking the extremist desire of full Israeli sovereignty over one of the holiest sites in Islam.  Alongside stood lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer, who in a Facebook post later in the day said it was time to remove the mosque and build a Third Jewish temple in its place.  As the day wore on, settlers began to gather just inside Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Muslim Quarter and Al-Aqsa Mosque.  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); About 200 teenagers and men came and went, taking turns chanting “Death to Arabs” and “A Jew is a soul, an Arab is a son of a whore”. Activists from various organisations remained nearby, escorting the few Palestinians who came and went from their homes. Alongside journalists, they soon became the focal point for verbal and physical attacks.  At one point, a group of young men and boys crowded around a journalist, shoved him into a corner, threw his phone on the ground and spat in his face.  Like they had done all day, after police broke up each attack, the ultra-nationalists would break into a victorious chant, this time jeering: "May your village burn."  Erasure of Palestinians  Shortly afterwards, activists and journalists were pushed out to make way for the incoming procession of those participating in the March of Flags.  What started as a small group quickly turned into a sea of young m