This year, Jerusalem Day begins in Israel on the evening of May 14th. The day celebrates the reunification of the city after 19 years of division between Israel and Jordan. During this time, Jews were not permitted to enter their holy sites, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall plaza.
By Dina Ehrhardt
In Israel, Jerusalem Day is celebrated annually on the 28th of Iyar (May/June). On Yom Yerushalayim, the Jewish population of Israel—especially the residents of Jerusalem—celebrates the reunification of the city of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. In this war, Israel conquered East Jerusalem from the Jordanians. The Jordanians had occupied this part of the city, as well as the entire area now known as the West Bank, since 1948 until the Six-Day War. With this, the Jews regained complete control of the Holy City after more than 1,000 years. For the first time since the founding of the State of Israel, the Israeli flag was raised on the Temple Mount.
Jerusalem Day is neither a religious festival nor a national holiday. However, due to Jerusalem's biblical significance for the country's Jewish population, this holiday represents the importance of Israel's capital city.
Throughout the day, various ceremonies take place. In schools across the country, students participate in a two-hour ceremony at 10:00 AM and have no regular classes during that time. Additionally, a flag parade is traditionally organized through Jerusalem every year. Thousands of Israelis take part, especially young people from the religious Zionist movement. Around 10:00 PM, fireworks conclude the celebrations in many cities across the country.
Israelis are celebrating the reunification of the city after it was divided between Israel and Jordan for 19 years. During this time, Jews were not allowed to enter their holy sites, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall plaza.
East Jerusalem dispute
Many claim that Israel took and annexed the city from the Palestinians in 1967. However, this is not the case, as the city officially belonged to the annexed territory (West Bank) of Jordan. Nevertheless, Israel's conquest of East Jerusalem was declared invalid in UN Security Council Resolution 478.
Because Arabs also live, especially in the eastern part of Jerusalem, and feel provoked by the celebrations of the conquest and annexation of East Jerusalem by the Jewish population, there are repeated outbreaks of violence on that day.
The Basic Law designates Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the seat of government institutions. The law obligates the State of Israel to ensure the development and prosperity of the city and mandates the protection of the city's holy sites and their free access for members of all religions.
Muslims also observe "Al-Quds Day" (Al-Quds being Arabic for Jerusalem). This day was established in 1979 by the Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini and is observed on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. This perhaps explains the annual tensions and clashes between Arabs and Jews in Israel around this time. A large Al-Quds Day demonstration is also held in Berlin every year, which is frequently marred by antisemitic incidents and chants.
The Jerusalem city coat of arms
Throughout Jerusalem, the blue and white flags of Israel and the Jerusalem flag, bearing the city's coat of arms, are displayed. The latter was introduced after the conquest in 1967. It depicts the Lion of Judah from Genesis 49:9. Judah was one of Jacob's twelve sons and the ancestor of David. The Star of David on the Israeli flag is derived from him. The wall depicted behind the lion symbolizes the Western Wall, while the yellow color represents the Meleke limestone of Jerusalem. The blue bands were adopted from the Israeli national flag and are a reference to the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit).
