ISRAEL is preparing to celebrate the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, a move that has ignited protests and raised fears of violence.
As Israel marks Jerusalem Day, the 51st anniversary of what it refers to as the city’s “unification” following the 1967 war, it will host a gala reception for Monday’s embassy dedication that will include members of a delegation led by President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump’s decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital ignited months of protests in the Palestinian territories. The weekly protests along the Israel-Gaza border are expected to culminate on Monday in parallel to the celebrations in Jerusalem.
Since March 30, 42 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the weekly protests. More than 1,800 have been wounded.
Gaza’s Hamas rulers have led the protests, which are set to peak this week with the 70th anniversary of what the Palestinians call the “nakba,” or catastrophe, referring to their mass uprooting during the war over Israel’s 1948 creation.
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