Residents in Jerusalem are feeling afraid in their own city as far-right Israelis prepare to hold a Flag March on Thursday, some told The National.
The divisive display of Israeli nationalism often attracts thousands to Jerusalem’s Old City to celebrate Israel’s 1967 victory and subsequent control of the city.
The Jerusalem Day march begins at Damascus Gate, the main entrance to city’s Muslim Quarter. Many Palestinians view it as a severe provocation.
Thousands of Palestinians live inside the quarter, while many others come to work, shop and pray at Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
Hania, a Palestinian who works in Jerusalem, told The National: "We Palestinians are not allowed to raise our flags, sometimes even in the West Bank, so it's not fair that Israelis can raise theirs in East Jerusalem."
"We want to have the opportunity to raise our flag. It is something blessed, like the cross that I wear around my neck."
In 2021, Israeli celebrations of victory in conflict started another. Gaza-based militant group Hamas became embroiled in an 11-day battle with Israel, citing the march as a catalyst. It led to the deaths of 12 civilians in Israel and about 260 Palestinians.
This year, some Palestinians said they were avoiding the area.
“I’ll be as far away as possible,” a prominent Palestinian businessman and long-time resident of the city's Muslim Quarter, who asked not to be named, told The National. "The problem is our kids might not be. It’s very possible that they and their friends are going to be there. Just hanging out to show them that we’re not going to let you have it your way.
“It’s not the flags that bother us, it’s the hooligans. The thugs that arrive under the protection of 2,000 policemen.”
Have lessons of 2021 been learnt?
Prof Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said he hoped for a peaceful march this year.
“The police should have a big presence to make sure the demonstrators are not provocative, as has happened in the past,” he said.
He said the event must go ahead.
“Jerusalem is important," he said. "We are celebrating the liberation of Jerusalem and the reunification of the city. It’s an important event in Zionist and Jewish history.”
Jerusalem’s police are shutting down city-centre streets, with security forces even preparing for potential rocket fire, although they maintain it is unlikely.
But the stakes are still particularly high this year.
Israel has only just agreed on a ceasefire with militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, after five days of fighting that saw tit-for-tat strikes between Gaza and Israel.
Hamas has called on as many Palestinians as possible to attend morning prayers at Al Aqsa, warning Israel not to cross “red lines”.
Despite the risks, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hero of the country’s far right, is expected to attend the Flag March. There are also fears he might try to enter Al Aqsa compound with his supporters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the march would proceed from Damascus Gate, despite security concerns.
Regardless of the government’s determination, many Israelis are worried about the implications, while others are opposed to the march on a deeper level.
Israeli-American writer Sarah Tuttle-Singer knows first-hand the damage such a march can do, having written a book about living in all four quarters of the Old City.
She called Jerusalem her “due north” and said there was "literally zero reason" for the parade through the Muslim Quarter on Jerusalem Day.
“Most of the Israelis who are suddenly so brave with their drums and their flags and their guns and their chants won't even set foot in the Muslim Quarter, except on this one day,” she said.
For Jerusalemites, humility in victory should set the benchmark for the spirit of the day.
The Palestinian business-owner said: “There was a war. You won, now be civil about it.”
Ms Tuttle-Singer was even more damning.
“Is this how the strong behave? Is this courage?" she said.
"A truly strong people would want everyone to feel united and equal and this pathetic display of racism and nationalism only hurts an already deep and festering wound. Next year, let’s be better than this.”
Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
'Midnights'
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Racecard
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com