Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marked Jerusalem Day on Monday with a special Cabinet meeting held in the historic City of David, reaffirming Israel’s sovereignty over its capital and connecting the city’s biblical heritage to modern national identity.
“Our enemies called the massacre they committed ‘The Al-Aqsa Flood,’” Netanyahu said, referring to the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. “Today, they understand very well the magnitude of the flood and the destruction that has befallen them. We will preserve a united and complete Jerusalem and safeguard Israel’s sovereignty.”
The City of David archaeological site is located just south of the Temple Mount.
The visit came as Israelis marked 58 years since the reunification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War—a conflict that also saw Judea and Samaria liberated along with the Golan and Sinai.
Thousands of Israelis participated in the annual Jerusalem Day Flags March through the capital. As in previous years, the parade featured large groups of youth waving Israeli flags and singing patriotic songs as they marched through the Old City to the Western Wall.
Security forces maintained a strong presence due to potential friction near Muslim neighborhoods. Far-left activists from the Standing Together group were also on the scene and were involved in several brawls that police broke up.
In his address, Netanyahu emphasized the symbolic and historical significance of holding the Cabinet meeting in the City of David—the ancient core of Jerusalem where King David had established the city as his capital. “The stones of Jerusalem are not silent—they speak to us from across the millennia. Here lie the foundations of our identity as an ancient nation. There is no Zionism without Zion, and no Israel without Jerusalem,” he said.
Netanyahu recounted how his grandfather, Rabbi Nathan Milikowsky, a prominent Zionist, had passionately opposed the idea of establishing a Jewish state in “Uganda” (actually parts of British East Africa today in Kenya). The idea was circulated before Israel became the clear focus of the modern Zionist project. “He believed in the promise of the Land of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “To abandon Jerusalem would have made Jewish history meaningless.”
Netanyahu warned that relinquishing Jerusalem would invite catastrophe. “If, God forbid, we give up on Jerusalem, we will face not only another massacre, but the destruction of the nation. We will not allow that to happen.” The Palestinian Authority claims Jerusalem as its capital.
In recognition of Israel’s historic claim to Jerusalem, Netanyahu announced a slate of government initiatives to expand the city’s infrastructure and development. “In recent years, we have increased international recognition of Jerusalem as our capital and encouraged embassies to relocate here. We’re investing billions in transportation, housing, healthcare, education, tourism, and heritage preservation,” he said.
The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalen in 2018, during the first term in office of President Donald Trump. Five countries have followed in the U.S.’s footsteps—Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said, “Jerusalem’s magnificent history is now matched by the bright future we are building—together with the full partnership of the Israeli government. The decisions being made today are laying the foundation for the capital’s continued growth.”
Earlier on Monday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. Jordan condemned the visit, calling it a provocation. Ben-Gvir’s repeated appearances at the site have drawn criticism from Arab and international figures who view them as incendiary, while the minister insists that Jewish presence on the mount is a legitimate expression of Israeli sovereignty.
