Perilous
Times
Arrests made at Jerusalem victory march
JERUSALEM — Israeli police made a dozen arrests Wednesday as
scuffles erupted between Arabs and Israelis who were marching
across Jerusalem to mark the anniversary of Israel's capture of
the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Mideast war.
Thousands of Israelis marched through the city Wednesday waving
flags and dancing for Jerusalem Day celebrations Wednesday.
The procession went through the largely Arab neighborhood of
Sheikh Jarrah, past a contentious Jewish enclave there. Left-wing
protesters scuffled with marchers and two people were arrested.
Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said one Israeli and one Arab
were later hurt when the sides threw rocks at each other near
Jerusalem's Old City. Rosenfeld said four Arabs and a tourist were
arrested for assaulting the Israeli marchers.
Two other Arabs, a man and a woman, were arrested for yelling
anti-Semitic slurs, including praise for Adolph Hitler and for
spitting at the marchers.
Five Israelis also were arrested for attacking Arabs, Rosenfeld
said.
Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future
state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Jerusalem will
never be divided. His long-standing policy puts him at odds with
the Palestinians and much of the world.
The future of Jerusalem is one of the toughest and most emotional
issues that Israel and Palestinians need to work out for a peace
agreement.