Police: Jerusalem march route won’t be changed, will go through Damascus Gate

Police have decided not to alter the route of the Jerusalem Day Flag March through Jerusalem’s Old City, despite spiraling tensions and major clashes on the Temple Mount, according to Hebrew media reports.

The route will go through Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter, as planned.

The event — set to begin at 4 p.m. — usually draws tens of thousands of young, mostly religious nationalist Israeli Jews.

The annual Old City march generally sees clashes between far-right Jews and Palestinians. This year, with tensions at a boiling point, security officials are reportedly convinced the event will be marked by violence between the sides.

Earlier, all of Israel’s security services recommended that police change the planned route of the march in order to limit the chances of direct confrontations between the participants and the Muslim residents of the city.

During a situational assessment by Israel’s political leadership, the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet security service and Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians all said they believe that the current route would likely result in violence.

According to Channel 12, Defense Minister Benny Gantz also called for the police to alter the route.