Tens of thousands join Jerusalem Day Parade

Jerusalem Post ^ | May. 18, 2004 | ETGAR LEFKOVITS

[yonif]

Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of downtown Jerusalem Tuesday evening as the city kicked off Jerusalem Day celebrations with the annual "Salute to Jerusalem" parade, marking 37 years since the reunification of the capital.

"I am a simple Jerusalemite having fun," said Hebrew University MA student Miriam Goldstein, adding how "inspiring" it was to see Israelis coming from all over the country to participate in the parade, held in made-to-order weather. Some of the participants peppered their floats with political messages.

The banner on the agricultural display from the Gush Katif settlement bloc, whose future is in doubt under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, read "we salute Jerusalem...and promise to safeguard her from the south for eternity."

The float from the Golan Heights was dotted with placards and flags reading "Peace with the Golan" – and the sign on the front of the Jordan Valley communities' truck read "The Jordan Valley is Israeli."

Most of the floats in the parade, sponsored by members of the farming communities, displayed a colorful mix of fruits, vegetables, and other produce.

One float, featuring a huge hen surrounded by dozens of eggs, informed participants of a "recent health study" recommending a daily intake of "at least one egg."

One of the Jerusalem Municipality's displays in the parade was that of a new garbage truck, as well as several street cleaners, all promising a clean Jerusalem, which struck some in the crowd as amusing considering the city is infamous for its poor sanitation.

In keeping with the ancient practice of bringing the season's first fruits to the Temple at Shavuot time, agriculture communities from across the country brought some 80 tons of produce, which was to be distributed to the city's poor.

The head of the Nahal Sorek local council, Eli Escozeto, said that more than 30,000 rural residents took part in the day's event, a number which he said was unprecedented.

As the parade passed city hall, a teenage dance troupe performed on a makeshift stage, where VIPs, including President Moshe Katsav, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, were seated.

Minister-without-Portfolio in charge of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs Natan Sharansky rode one of the first tractors that kicked off the parade. Former Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert, who was in Washington for the AIPAC conference, was clearly missed by the crowd of Jerusalemites who shouted "Where is Olmert?" as a delegation from his Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry marched along Jaffa Road.

The balloon-carrying, flag-waving marchers then made their way, singing and dancing, to Sacher Park, where a gala musical event was held. On Tuesday night, various moonlight walks were scheduled to head to the Western Wall, which was to be the epicenter and final destination of student marches Wednesday.

The official state ceremony marking Jerusalem Day will take place Wednesday evening at Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill.

[goldstategop]

It reminds us how close Prime Minister Ehud Barak came to redividing the city and the proposition is by no means off the table. We can only hope Jerusalem will remain the united and eternal capital of the Jewish State for the ages.