Jerusalem to light Old City walls in colors of French flag

Cities worldwide turn their iconic landmarks blue, white and red in solidarity with terror-struck Paris

The city of Jerusalem will join other cities around the world turning their iconic structures into French flags in solidarity with terror-ravaged Paris.

Beginning at midnight Saturday, a section of the Old City walls near Jaffa Gate, stretching from David’s Citadel to Tzahal Square, will be lit in the blue, white and red of the French republic.

“The entire world understands today what we in Israel and in Jerusalem have been experiencing — murderous terror driven by the same hatred and death-wish for the innocent. We must act as one against all terror, wherever it may be,” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement Saturday.

“We send our condolences from Jerusalem to the nation of France, to the families of the victims who were murdered in Paris, and to the Litman family that lost two of its members when they were murdered on the same day [as the Paris attacks] in the land of Israel.”

The gesture of lighting landmarks in the colors of the French flag is spreading around the world after Friday’s simultaneous terror attacks that killed 129 in the French capital.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, did its part, lighting the building front face and lowering flags to half mast.

The Knesset lit up in the colors of the French flag in solidarity with the French people following the November 13 terror attacks in Paris, November 14, 2015. (Knesset Spokesperson)

Thousands of Israelis rallied in solidarity with the French people before the blue, white and red facade of the Tel Aviv City Hall. French Ambassador in Israel Patrick Maisonnave and former Israeli president Shimon Peres attended the rally.

The Tel Aviv municipality building in Rabin Square is lit up with the colors of the French flag in solidarity with the victims of Friday's terror attacks in Paris, November 14, 2015 (Channel 2 news) — The Tel Aviv municipality building in Rabin Square is lit up with the colors of the French flag in solidarity with the victims of Friday’s terror attacks in Paris, November 14, 2015 (Channel 2 news)

London’s “Eye” ferris wheel on the Thames also flew the French colors.

London landmark The London Eye is illuminated in blue, white and red lights, resembling the colors of the French national flag, in London on November 14, 2015 (Justin Tallis/AFP)

And perhaps most poignant of all, One World Trade Center in Manhattan, built to replace the Twin Towers felled in the 9/11 terror attack of 2001, was lit up in solidarity and commemoration.

One World Trade Center lights up in the colors of the French flag after deadly Paris attacks, November 13, 2015. (New York Governor's office) — One World Trade Center lights up in the colors of the French flag after deadly Paris attacks, November 13, 2015. (New York Governor’s office)

Other forms of commemoration are expected. In a Saturday joint statement, leaders of the 28-nation European Union called on the EU’s 510 million people to mark their solidarity at noon Monday with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks.

AP contributed to this report.