Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed, on Friday, that the so-called “flags march” will take place on schedule, but it will not pass the Haram al-Sharif or the “Temple Mount”.
“The flags march will be held as it was previously held and according to the path that was determined, just as it was held decades ago,” Bennett said in statements transmitted to the Arab media by his spokesman, Ofir Gendelman.
The Israeli Prime Minister added, “Therefore, the march will end in the courtyard of the Western Wall and it does not pass through the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif,” and added: “In addition, activity on the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif will continue as usual,” as he put it.
Gendelman confirmed that “sessions to assess the situation and hold consultations in this regard on an ongoing basis, at all levels, during the weekend and on Sunday,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Homeland Security, the Commissioner-General of Police, and a number of security officials, according to Gendelman.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry had condemned what it described as Israel’s “insistence” on holding a “flags march” and described the step as “an escalation of aggression against the holy city.”
It is expected that the march of flags will start Sunday from West Jerusalem to reach East Jerusalem, amid Palestinian fears of security incidents.