Knesset Security Chief Maj. Gen. Moshe Griff on Wednesday barred Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, as well as several other MKs from marching through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem with Israeli flags on Thursday.
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Ben-Gvir and the other lawmakers had planned to use their parliamentary immunity to stage the march to protest the rescheduling of a flag march through the city by Jewish nationalists. The move was slammed as an unnecessary provocation during a sensitive time security-wise.
Griff's decision followed consultation with the Shin Bet security service and Israel Police, whose situation assessment concluded that not only would Ben-Gvir's move provoke violence in the capital and potentially beyond, he and anyone joining him would be knowingly placing themselves in harm's way.
"Such action by lawmakers could, in a high degree of certainty, seriously undermine public order, to the point of compromising state security," the police assessment said.
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai further decided to bar Ben-Gvir from entering the temple mount. According to Channel 12 News the move, which constitutes an unprecedented infringement of an MK's immunity, was endorsed by Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit but must still be ratified by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision to prevent Ben-Gvir's plan despite his parliamentary immunity is highly irregular. Otzma Yehudit's leader said he would petition the High Court of Justice on the matter.
Police officials met Wednesday with the organizers of the flag march to further discuss alternative routes. Earlier this week, public safety concerns prompted the police to ban revelers from marching through the Damascus Gate, a known flashpoint in the Old City, sparking outrage in right-wing circles.
Organizers, however, have rejected the alternative routes suggested by the police, saying, "Unfortunately, the outline presented to us by the police does not express the purpose of the parade, by the Jewish people, with Israeli flags in the Israeli capital.
"Jerusalem is our eternal capital and the heart of the nation. We sincerely hope that the necessary steps will be taken to allow us to walk the streets of Jerusalem safely."
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