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Israel marks Jerusalem Day, 50 years of reunification

[ssba]

Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the city of Jerusalem yesterday.

The celebrations were opened by Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin. Speaking at the official state ceremony on Ammunition Hill, the President said that the once divided Jerusalem “is the same city where Jews and Arabs, religious and secular people, find the space to live together, to meet and get to know each other… to build a shared Jerusalem, together”.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat spoke of the economic and social development of the city since its reunification in 1967. He said that Jerusalem “is a flourishing, thriving city – in the fields of education, hi-tech and culture, in business and all areas of life”.

He added: “Let us all ‘exalt Jerusalem above our utmost joy,’ and build her for future generations.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke at the ceremony, saying that the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, located in the Old City, “will remain under Israeli sovereignty forever”.

The Prime Minister reiterated his remarks of Israel’s role in the reunification of Jerusalem at a special session at the Knesset to mark the anniversary later in the day.

He said: “We liberated Jerusalem and turned it into a city that is not perfect but it is united. It respects the different faiths. We are the ones who redeemed Jerusalem from neglect and distress.”

In response to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the leader of the opposition, Isaac Herzog, questioned whether the 50th anniversary “is the time to go to a brave and historic process… to implementation of the vision of two states for two peoples,” in order to “shake off the heavy burden of millions of Palestinians and ensure the continued existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state”.

He also offered his party’s support and a political safety net for the government to enter into peace negotiations.