http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4658326,00.html
With regard to , from above link :
March participants drew much criticism over the years from left-wing organizations, who claimed that some of participants were harassing the Arab residents of the city during the march.
The organizations Ir Amim and Tag Meir petitioned the Supreme Court, demanding not to allow the marchers go through the Muslim Quarter on the grounds that it opens up the door for racist harassment.
The two organizations presented the court with videos showing marcher calling out racist slurs at Arabs like "Death to Arabs" and "May
your village burn." They also claimed the Muslim merchants have been advised by police to close shop early ahead of the march.
and :
Anti-racism group Tag Meir is to hold a counterdemonstration outside city hall to protest against what it called the "march of hate".
It said the annual march had become "a focus for extremist groups" and was routinely accompanied by "racist slurs and insults, destruction of property and physical violence against the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem".
"This year we say a loud and clear 'No to the violence, the hatred and the incitement' which threaten the delicate fabric of daily life in Jerusalem," it said.
The group said its supporters would walk through the Muslim Quarter handing out flowers to residents as a gesture of peace and coexistence.
The group that I belong to ...Gush Shalom ...has this statement to make :
Abolish "Jerusalem Day" - the settler holiday
Gush Shalom calls for abolition of "Jerusalem Day". This is a holiday only to settlers and racists, who get a license to provoke and harass Palestinians . . The real 'Jerusalem Day' - when Jerusalem becomes the capital of two states living in peace.
A lie does not become a truth, even if repeated forty-eight times. Jerusalem is a not a united city, and has never been a united city in the forty-eight years since 1967. East Jerusalem is a Palestinian area under occupation rule. Just so is it treated by the governmental and municipal authorities of the State of Israel, and by the settlers who are dispossessing the Palestinian inhabitants, with the funding and backing of these authorities.
"Jerusalem Day" is not a holiday to Israel's citizens or to residents of Jerusalem. It is a holiday only for the young settlers, who are given by the Jerusalem Police and the Supreme Court a free hand to hold a provocative "Flag Dance" throughout East Jerusalem – even though in previous years this "dance" developed into an ongoing chain of racist harassment and violence against Palestinian inhabitants.
It is time to end the lie and erase this ugly stain from the calendar of the State of Israel. The real Jerusalem Day will be the day when the occupation ends and Jerusalem becomes the capital of two states - West Jerusalem the capital of Israel and East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine. Only then can Jerusalem truly be a united city, by the free will of all its inhabitants - Israelis and Palestinians alike.
The following protest actions were not initiated or organized by Gush Shalom, but we warmly welcome them and call upon members and supporters to join in......
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Jerusalemites will not keep silent in the face of racism!
Stop the March of Hate on Jerusalem Day!
We will be standing in protest against racism on Safra Square, in Jerusalem's Jaffa Street, at 5:00 pm on Sunday May 17, 2015.
The Flag Dance Parade on Jerusalem Day has become a focus for extremist groups, disseminating hatred, racism and violence.
The march through the streets of the Eastern city, particularly in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, is routinely accompanied by racist slurs and insults, destruction of property and physical violence against the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem.
Year after year, the Jerusalem police and municipality fail to take any real steps to stop the violence and incitement. In the past stormy summer, violence and racism threatened to completely dominate and overwhelm the public sphere. This year we say a loud and clear No to the violence, the hatred and the incitement which threaten the delicate fabric of daily life in Jerusalem.
This year we will manifest a significant, nonviolent presence on the street. We will remind the inhabitants of Jerusalem that there is another way. We will not stand silent in the face of racism!
No to the parade of violence and incitement passing through the Muslim and Palestinian neighborhoods!
Yes to tolerance and coexistence in our city!
Dance of the Flowers vs. Dance of the Flags
Tag Meir is excited to help an initiative of Jerusalemites who have decided to put an end to racism in the city.
Tonight, following the march of the flags for Jerusalem Day, we are going to march in the old city of Jerusalem and distribute flowers to all residents of the Old City.
We want to show the faces of Jerusalem residents who want to live together peacefully and crave to see better days of love between all the people of the city.
We are going to paint the Old City - its streets, stores, allies and people with a lot of flowers, colors and love.
We will meet at 6pm at Safra Square (by city hall) where you will be able to take your flowers and we will walk from Tsahal square towards Damascus Gate and Jaffa Gate.
If you truly care about this city, on all its residents, join us and spread the word.
Source:
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/events/1431863436
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