By Marney Blom
Tens of thousands of young Israelis danced through the streets of Jerusalem bearing banners and flags in celebration of the 1967 reunification of East and West Jerusalem.
Timed to coordinate with Jerusalem Day, jubilant participants colour-coordinated with the Israeli flag, fearlessly sang and danced their way from the centre of today’s West Jerusalem into the core of Arab East Jerusalem through the Damascus gate, before entering the ancient city. As Israeli Swat teams, army and security personnel screened the Israeli youth from potential conflict with Arab residents, the vibrant stream of dancing youth careened through the narrow alleys of the ancient Arab quarter before cascading down into the Western Wall plaza.
Coming within days of high profile political meetings and mounting international pressure to carve up Israel and potentially the Holy City, undeterred throngs of Israeli youth clearly expressed their hope and belief for the continued peace and unity of their eternal capital.
Birthed in post 6-Day-War 1960’s, the March known today as Rikude Degeleem, or the Dance of the Flags, was a celebration of the unity of the city of Jerusalem and its eternal value to the Jewish people.
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