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Ultranationalist Israelis clashed with Palestinians as they marched through Jerusalem's most sensitive area on Wednesday, with thousands of police sent on to the streets for the contentious Flag Day march.
Tens of thousands participated in the annual march, which has been promoted by Israel's far right and has previously been a flash point between marchers and the city's Palestinian residents.
One extremist chanted “no more Al Aqsa, no more children in Gaza” as the crowds moved through the Muslim Quarter, after hundreds of Israelis visited Al Aqsa compound and waved flags earlier in the day.
Violence broke out as extremists wearing white shirts attacked journalists, with bottles thrown from the crowd.
Jerusalem Day is the most racist day on the Israeli calendar, because it touches the most sacred and sensitive issue for Palestinians: Al Aqsa Mosque
Sami Abu Shehadeh,
chairman, Balad political party
In response, Israeli police said they detained provocateurs people who threw objects at the press near the Damascus Gate.
"We strongly condemn any attempt to harm journalists and media personnel carrying out their duties, as well as any other individuals," the police said in a statement.
"These lawless aggressors disrupt all participants in the parade, both through their violent behaviour and through the vile and unacceptable shouts heard from their mouths," the police said in a strongly worded condemnation.
Earlier in the day, Israeli police were seen attacking Palestinian shopkeepers in the Muslim Quarter, while a Palestinian journalist in a flak jacket was surrounded by a mob of men and attacked. He required medical attention.
Other journalists, including The National's correspondents, were also met with a heavy-handed response from police officers.
The march – part of Jerusalem Day celebrations, an Israeli public holiday to mark the moment Israel fully occupied Jerusalem in 1967 – led to 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas in 2021.
On Wednesday, it began in the afternoon, following a route through Damascus Gate towards the Western Wall.
Despite fears that tension over the Gaza war could make the day more volatile, Israeli authorities said on Tuesday that the march would proceed.
Police said more than 3,000 personnel were deployed in the city on Wednesday.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir promised to join the march and that “Jews will go up to [Al Aqsa Mosque]”.
“We need to hit them where it's most important to them,” he said.
An incursion on the site, the third holiest in Islam, is considered a provocation by Palestinians, more so if it involves a government minister.
Hundreds of Israelis were seen in Al Aqsa on Wednesday morning, with some performing Jewish prayers.
Crowds entered Al Aqsa's courtyard under police protection, the official Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. Groups "performed Talmudic rituals" in the courtyard, it added, with some reports suggesting up to 500 people visited the site.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, issued a joint statement condemning the "Israeli incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque" on Wednesday.
They also denounced the "Israeli government's permission for the so-called flag march in occupied Jerusalem".
Despite fears of violence in the aftermath of October 7, Jerusalem had remained relatively quiet throughout the Gaza war.
It is suffering from the effects of the conflict, particularly the Old City which is home to many Palestinians and Palestinian businesses that have been hit hard by a lack of visitors.
Analysts told The National on Tuesday that a flash point on Wednesday could lead to uncontrolled escalations, with one speaking of the potential for “regional war”.
Last year’s Flag March took place with relatively few clashes, after many Palestinians chose to avoid going out in public amid fears of violence and a heavy Israeli police presence.
Extremists attacked journalists, throwing sticks and glass bottles.
Sami Abu Shehadeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel and chairman of the opposition party Balad, said Jerusalem Day is “the most racist day on the Israeli calendar, because it touches the most sacred and sensitive issue for Palestinians: Al Aqsa Mosque”.
He believes far-right politicians in the current government, particularly Mr Ben-Gvir, want the day to lead to regional war.
“Ben-Gvir is a pyromaniac and a very dangerous man for Israelis, Palestinians and the Middle East,” Mr Abu Shehadeh said.
“I wish Itamar Ben-Gvir was the only issue. The problem is he’s a minister in the Israeli government, within which you don’t find anyone attacking his dangerous, racist behaviour. It gives you a feeling that there is a consensus on racism and provocation.”
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Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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The specs
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
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