Israeli police faced off with Palestinian protesters Sunday in another night of clashes in east Jerusalem, a day before the annual Jerusalem Day parade, a celebration of the city's reunification in the 1967 Six-Day War.
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The late-night skirmishes raised the likelihood of further clashes Monday during the annual Jerusalem Day celebrations. The Israel Police greenlighted the parade Sunday, despite days of unrest and soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions at a flashpoint holy site and the nearby neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where Jewish and Palestinian families are waging a court and eviction battle.
Addressing a special cabinet meeting ahead of Jerusalem Day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel "will not allow any extremists to destabilize the calm in Jerusalem. We will enforce law and order decisively and responsibly."
"We will continue to maintain freedom of worship for all faiths, but we will not allow violent disturbances," he said. At the same time, he said, "We emphatically reject the pressures not to build in Jerusalem."
This year's parade coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time of heightened religious sensitivities, and follows weeks of clashes.
Maj. Gen. (ret) Amos Gilad, who formerly served as Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories as well as holding many other high-ranking security positions, told Army Radio that the parade should be canceled or at least kept away from Damascus Gate, saying "the powder keg is burning and can explode at any time."
Kan News said said the final route of the parade had not yet been decided.
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