Today, Israel celebrates 47 years since the reunification of Jerusalem during 1967’s Six Day War. The day was declared a religious holiday by the Chief Rabbinate in recognition of the miracles that took place during the war.
In 1948, the Jordanians conquered the eastern part of Jerusalem, including its Old City, forcibly expelling its Jewish residents. For the following 19 years, Jews were denied access to the Western Wall (Kotel). The Jordanians destroyed 48 of the 49 historic synagogues within the Old City and desecrated ancient graves located on the Mount of Olives by using them as latrines.
In 1967, Israeli paratroopers liberated the eastern half of the city, making their way to the Kotel. Their experiences have inspired song and literature, and a photograph of forces standing at the Wall, taken mere hours later, is one of the city’s most famous images.
The success of Israeli forces during the Six Day War can only be attributed to the help of God. Among the miracles which took place during the brief conflict, an IDF ammunition truck, parked outside a building in Jerusalem overnight, was hit by an enemy shell. Had the shell exploded, the loaded truck would have, too, taking out the buildings in the surrounding area and killing all the Jewish residents. Miraculously, the shell neglected to explode.
In an effort to maintain a stable status quo, the Israeli government decided to hand over control of several religious sites, including the Temple Mount, to the control of the Muslim Waqf (religious authority). Muslim worshipers there have often used it as a staging ground for riots and attacks against Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall below.
Wednesday was no exception, though heightened police presence for Jerusalem Day celebrations quickly restored calm. Masked Palestinian youths threw stones at security forces as the compound opened for visitors this morning, and later a group of youths fled to the Al-Aqsa mosque, throwing stones and firecrackers along the way. Both disturbances were quelled without injury.
Tuesday night, speaking at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem, site of a terror attack in 2008 which left eight young students dead and 18 injured, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep Jerusalem united, as the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish people.
“47 years ago Jerusalem was reunified, that was the way it used to be and that is the way to will always be,” he said.
“Jerusalem is Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum), Herzl’s grave (on Mount Herzl) and the Mount of Olives, where both my grandmother and grandfather are buried as well as (former prime minister) Menachem Begin and our fathers,” the prime minister explained.
“Jerusalem is also Mount Zion and Mount Moriah (Temple Mount), and Jerusalem is the Western Wall, Israel eternal. Jerusalem is our heart, and we preserve our heart, the heart of the nation, and we will never divide our heart. Never!”
Celebrations and activities are planned throughout the day. Among them, Finance Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) led a night hike and tour of important area sites on the eve of Jerusalem Day. Memorial services are being held across the city. Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife are hosting a reception in the Old City’s Tower of David Museum. Finally, celebrants from across the country are expected to join the city’s annual “Flag Dance” parade and celebration, taking place at 4 pm. Tens of thousands of participants attend the event each year, which ends in a rally and celebratory prayers at the Western Wall.
