Undoubtedly influenced in part by the visit of US special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, the Prime Minister’s Office on motzei shabbos called on Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich to postpone the flag march set to take place in an eastern area of the capital on Sunday, as was reported by YWN-Israel. Police have made arrangements for the march, which was to have been held prior to Pesach, but was postponed. Police are compelled to permit the march as per a High Court of Justice ruling, similar to the march held in the Israeli Arab community of Um el-Fahm.

The message released from the Prime Minister’s Office calls the event “provocative”, fearing it will compromise ongoing diplomatic efforts towards jumpstarting diplomatic talks between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority).

The march is intended to highlight the government policy of selective law-enforcement, with the national government tenaciously removing any sign of Jewish construction throughout Yehuda and Shomron while there are over 200 illegal homes in the eastern capital slated for demolition yet the orders are not carried out for fear of the political repercussions.

Senior police officials consulted with legal experts and Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who stated there are no legal grounds to halt the march at this point.

As such, the march is set to take place on Sunday. Police have limited the event to 70 unarmed participants, setting a one hour maximum time limit.

The Prime Minister’s Office is seeking to avoid another embarrassing situation during the visit to the region by another senior American administration official, this time Mitchell, reflecting back not too long ago when the Interior Ministry announced approval of 1,600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo during the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden, an incident that led to a major diplomatic row between Jerusalem and Washington.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)