Israelis Mark Jerusalem Reunification
Israelis on Wednesday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War, but Palestinians in the city’s Arab neighborhoods shunned the festivities.
Tens of thousands of Israeli high school students converged on the Jewish state’s disputed capital, joining veterans of the 1967 fighting who attended memorial ceremonies on former battlefields.
Israeli troops drove into the historic Old City of Jerusalem on June 7, 1967, but the date according to the Hebrew calendar falls on Wednesday.
Streets in the western, Jewish-inhabited sector of the city were packed, and many buildings were gaily decorated with Israeli flags. Officials said that about 100,000 Israeli visitors from outside the city were expected.
The festivities were completely shunned in the Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, where Israel’s presence is considered military occupation. Many Arab shops were closed, but Palestinian sources said there were no calls for a business strike.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
