The Jerusalem flag parade ends without major incident
Some 2,000 police secured the annual Jerusalem parade of some 5,000 celebrants who first assembled outside Damascus Gate. Small batches were then led into the Old City through Jaffa Gate to avoid the Muslim Quarter. The event ended at the Western Wall. Hamas incendiary balloons caused some 20 fires around the Gaza Strip during the day. The new Israeli government sent a message to Egypt, as broker of the current Gaza ceasefire, asserting that the Jerusalem parade was no provocation but a regular annual event, and Hamas should be restrained from violence. Palestinian flag wavers gathered around the parade and curses were exchanged. Stones lobbed by Palestinians injured three police officers, who arrested 17 attackers. This event caught the Bennett-Lapid government on its second day in office. How it responds to Hamas balloon attacks is anyone’s guess.