From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Saudi Arabia decries Jerusalem Day Flag March as ‘provocation’
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Saudi Arabia tears into the Israeli government for allowing today’s Jerusalem Day Flag March to go forward through the flashpoint Old City of the capital, including through its Muslim Quarter.
“The kingdom affirms that these violations represent a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world, especially in light of the continuing war and acts of violence against Palestinian civilians,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry claims in a statement.
As in past years, the Flag March featured some far-right participants assaulting journalists, harassing Palestinians and chanting racist slogans against Arabs.
The condemnation comes amid increased frustration in Riyadh with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s continued refusal to accept a pathway to a future Palestinian state — a key condition for a series of bilateral agreements that Riyadh is seeking to sign with the United States.
The Times of Israel Community.