Jerusalem Day

Police in Jerusalem were on high alert as Israelis mark “Jerusalem Day” to celebrate 45 years since its forces captured the eastern part of the city from Jordan during the 1967 war. It officially united the capital shortly afterwards, but only a few countries recognize this and have kept their embassies in Tel Aviv. A major parade is planned for downtown and tens of thousands of flag-waving youth are expected to march through the walled Old City to the Western Wall and through Arab neighborhoods. The rallies have become increasingly nationalistic in recent years and Palestinian clerics have called on Arabs to converge on the city to confront the Jews. Police and Israeli security forces have swarmed the city and warned they would not tolerate any violence.