From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Marchers from around the country begin to arrive in Jerusalem for Flag March
Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel
Revelers begin to stream into the capital to celebrate Jerusalem Day, among them families planning to stay for the weekend.
“We came for the whole weekend, to honor the liberation of Jerusalem, of the Western Wall,” says Keren Silam, exiting Jerusalem’s train station.
Coming from the central city of Netanya, Silam and 30 members of her extended family rented an apartment for the holiday weekend.
“Three generations are here!” says her sister Miri Peretz, accompanying their father and her daughter.
The family plans to join today’s Flag March, a celebration of Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem when it captured East Jerusalem from Jordan during the 1967 Six Day War.
“My father fought in 1967,” she says.
Alongside dancing and Israeli flag waving, the event annually triggers tensions and scuffles with local Palestinians, who see it as a provocation.
“There are no fights, we’re for here for peace,” says Keren, when asked if she’s concerned about the annual confrontations.
The Times of Israel Community.