The procession, which moved through the Muslim Quarter toward the Western Wall, is one of Israel’s most politically charged nationalist demonstrations and has long inflamed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested city.

Israeli police erected barricades around Damascus Gate and restricted access to parts of the Old City, while Palestinian shopkeepers said authorities ordered businesses shut ahead of the march.Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed the territory in a move not recognized by most of the international community.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, making the annual march a focal point of competing national claims.“Jerusalem is our holy city. It is our holy city forever,” Shira Gefen, a participant who traveled from near Haifa to attend the event, told Reuters.

Thousands of security personnel, including riot police, were deployed across Jerusalem as crowds carrying Israeli flags streamed through narrow streets of the Old City.

The parade route traditionally passes through Palestinian neighborhoods, drawing criticism from Palestinians and rights groups who accuse Israeli authorities of enabling nationalist displays intended to reinforce Israeli control over East Jerusalem.

The event comes at a time of heightened political and military strain across the Middle East, with the ongoing Iran conflict and renewed regional security concerns fueling nationalist rhetoric on multiple fronts.

Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s seizure of East Jerusalem and access to Jewish holy sites during the 1967 conflict. The march concludes at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as the last remnant of the ancient Temple complex.

Muslims refer to the same elevated compound above the wall as Al Haram Al Sharif, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site.Previous Jerusalem Day marches have seen clashes between Israeli nationalists and Palestinians, with some demonstrators chanting anti-Arab slogans.

Israeli authorities said security measures this year were aimed at preventing violence and maintaining order during the celebrations.

The procession, which moved through the Muslim Quarter toward the Western Wall, is one of Israel’s most politically charged nationalist demonstrations and has long inflamed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested city.

Israeli police erected barricades around Damascus Gate and restricted access to parts of the Old City, while Palestinian shopkeepers said authorities ordered businesses shut ahead of the march.Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed the territory in a move not recognized by most of the international community.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, making the annual march a focal point of competing national claims.“Jerusalem is our holy city. It is our holy city forever,” Shira Gefen, a participant who traveled from near Haifa to attend the event, told Reuters.

Thousands of security personnel, including riot police, were deployed across Jerusalem as crowds carrying Israeli flags streamed through narrow streets of the Old City.

The parade route traditionally passes through Palestinian neighborhoods, drawing criticism from Palestinians and rights groups who accuse Israeli authorities of enabling nationalist displays intended to reinforce Israeli control over East Jerusalem.

The event comes at a time of heightened political and military strain across the Middle East, with the ongoing Iran conflict and renewed regional security concerns fueling nationalist rhetoric on multiple fronts.

Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s seizure of East Jerusalem and access to Jewish holy sites during the 1967 conflict. The march concludes at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as the last remnant of the ancient Temple complex.

Muslims refer to the same elevated compound above the wall as Al Haram Al Sharif, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site.Previous Jerusalem Day marches have seen clashes between Israeli nationalists and Palestinians, with some demonstrators chanting anti-Arab slogans.

Israeli authorities said security measures this year were aimed at preventing violence and maintaining order during the celebrations.

The backlash has emerged despite earlier efforts by Trump to rebuild ties with Europe’s far right after returning to the White House last year.

While U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently campaigned for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, such overt support has become increasingly rare amid discontent over the Iran war.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declined to allow U.S. forces to use an air base in Sicily for strikes on Iran, while Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally, described Trump’s war objectives as “erratic.”

In Germany, officials from the Alternative for Germany have called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in the country.The tensions come even as a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remains in place, underscoring the broader geopolitical strain triggered by the conflict.

Analysts say the developments highlight the limits of Trump’s ambition to forge a cohesive international bloc of nationalist movements.

“Getting a blessing from Donald Trump is now a mixed blessing,” said Charles Kupchan, a professor of international relations at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The rift follows earlier friction between Washington and European allies over Trump’s remarks targeting Denmark in connection with his demand that the country cede Greenland to the United States.

Trump also criticized NATO for what he described as insufficient support during recent tensions.Daniel Baer, a former U.S. ambassador and State Department official, said the latest disagreements reflect the difficulty of sustaining a unified nationalist coalition across borders.

“Building some sort of international coalition around national chauvinism is very difficult,” he said.Orbán, long regarded as a key Trump ally, has so far avoided direct criticism, maintaining a cautious stance on the Iran conflict. In a recent interview, he said it was too early to determine whether U.S. actions would lead to peace or further escalation.

Hungary’s leader has emphasized his relationship with Trump as a pillar of his foreign policy, often presenting it to voters as a source of security and international leverage. However, analysts warn that the association could carry political risks as perceptions of the U.S. administration shift.

According to Mario Bikarsku, a senior Europe analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, recent U.S. engagement in Hungary could have unintended consequences for Orbán’s domestic standing.

Experts note that the rise of far-right parties across Europe has largely been driven by domestic political dynamics rather than external influence, suggesting limited incentive for alignment with Washington’s policies.

Kupchan said nationalist movements in countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany have gained traction independently, shaped more by local economic and political conditions than by U.S. support.

The evolving divisions underscore the fragility of transnational political alliances built on ideological affinity, particularly as the Iran conflict continues to reshape global alignments.

National Day celebrations are a significant event in many countries, marking a moment of unity, pride, and reflection on a nation’s history and achievements. Imam Sudais’ remarks serve as a poignant reminder of the role that patriotism plays in shaping a cohesive and thriving society.

Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz al-Sudais, commonly known as Al-Sudais, serves as one of the nine imams at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He also holds the position of president at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

Known for his enchanting recitation of Quran, and influence in Makkah and beyond, expressed the view that celebrating National Day extends beyond mere festivity. Instead, he believes it represents a deep-seated sense of love and loyalty to one’s homeland, echoing the sentiments of countless individuals who cherish their nation’s values, traditions, and shared identity.

The Imam’s statement takes on added significance as it positions patriotism as not just a cultural or civic sentiment but as a religious duty. This perspective aligns with the belief that love and devotion to one’s country can be seen as an extension of one’s faith and commitment to the well-being of the nation’s people.

Moreover, Imam Sudais contends that celebrating National Day is not merely a personal choice but a collective and nationwide aspiration.

As Imam Sudais’ message serves as a compelling call to action for individuals and communities to come together, celebrate their nation’s achievements, and renew their commitment to the principles that unite them.

This also shows that loving your country can mean different things to different people, including being connected to your faith and community. It reminds that National Day brings everyone together, no matter where they come from or what they believe in.