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The Iranian regime is watching Jerusalem closely as Jerusalem Day takes place in Israel on Sunday, specifically to see how it can try to fuel the conflict.

Iran knows that it lacks some options to encourage Palestinians to attack Israel because its media doesn’t have deep inroads with Palestinian readers and Iran has in the past failed to make gains against Israel. Yet this Jerusalem Day gives Iran another opportunity to fan the flames. 

Amid economic problems at home and insecurity felt by Iranians regarding infrastructure problems after a building collapsed on Friday in Abadan, Iran seeks to highlight Jerusalem tensions as they are away from home. This much is clear from Iran’s coverage of the clashes in Jerusalem as well as the statements by groups tied to Iran, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. 

Among the first Iranian reports were at Fars News on Sunday claiming that there was a “Zionist attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The article's take is that any Jewish visits to the Temple Mount as a conspiracy involving “Zionist settlers.”

Iran has said that the flag march, set for later in the day, “may [lead to an] explosion in the Palestinian territories due to the warnings of the Palestinian groups to respond.” This means that Iran wants to help choreograph those tensions for its own interests.  

Men dance with Israeli flags at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City on the eve of Jerusalem Day, Saturday night. (credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)

Iran’s media noted that Palestinians had barricaded themselves inside the mosque. The Iranian report said that Israeli “regime forces chained the doors of the al-Qibli prayer hall this morning and surrounded the Palestinian worshipers inside.”  

Iranian media also noted the different routes of the flag march and examined the different parts of the old city that might be affected. “The Zionist regime police have identified two routes for the march today and have left the Zionist settlers free to choose either of these two routes. The first route, which is shorter, starts from West Jerusalem and after passing Bab al-Khalil [Hebron] — one of the historical gates of the old part of Jerusalem, it precedes to the Western Wall].”

"The march often sees clashes between Palestinians and settlers and Israeli police on the other hand,” the reports added.  

Jewish men carry Israeli national flags as they walk in an alley, inside Jerusalem's Old City, on Jerusalem Day, May 29, 2022. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

Iranian media also covered the Jewish visits to the Temple Mount and noted: "Yesterday, Palestinian groups, including Hamas, called on all Palestinians to come to Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Sunday, to prevent the Zionists from invading and desecrating this holy place.”

The point of the recent tensions is that Iran believes that this will lead to “intense tensions between the Palestinians and the Zionists due to the stubbornness and insistence of the Israeli regime in attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque.” This claim is a fabrication but it is one that Tehran wants to push in order to fan the flames of excuses regarding the violence that could break out. 

Overall, the Jerusalem Day events provide Iran with one more way in which to try to make its incitement relevant.

Much as Hezbollah has sought to remain relevant after performing badly in recent Lebanese elections, the Iranian regime attempts to do the same. Last year Iran encouraged Hamas to prepare massive salvos of rockets aimed at Israel in preparation for conflict.

Iran has used the recent tensions as an excuse to prepare more drones for attacks on Israel. The last year has seen a major increase in these drone threats. In order for Iran to use its weapons though, it requires some kind of increase in conflict between Israel and the Palestinians so as to use that conflict as cover for its own involvement.  

The Iranian regime is watching Jerusalem closely as Jerusalem Day takes place in Israel on Sunday, specifically to see how it can try to fuel the conflict.

Iran knows that it lacks some options to encourage Palestinians to attack Israel because its media doesn’t have deep inroads with Palestinian readers and Iran has in the past failed to make gains against Israel. Yet this Jerusalem Day gives Iran another opportunity to fan the flames. 

Amid economic problems at home and insecurity felt by Iranians regarding infrastructure problems after a building collapsed on Friday in Abadan, Iran seeks to highlight Jerusalem tensions as they are away from home. This much is clear from Iran’s coverage of the clashes in Jerusalem as well as the statements by groups tied to Iran, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. 

Among the first Iranian reports were at Fars News on Sunday claiming that there was a “Zionist attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The article's take is that any Jewish visits to the Temple Mount as a conspiracy involving “Zionist settlers.”

Iran has said that the flag march, set for later in the day, “may [lead to an] explosion in the Palestinian territories due to the warnings of the Palestinian groups to respond.” This means that Iran wants to help choreograph those tensions for its own interests.  

Men dance with Israeli flags at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City on the eve of Jerusalem Day, Saturday night. (credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)

Iran’s media noted that Palestinians had barricaded themselves inside the mosque. The Iranian report said that Israeli “regime forces chained the doors of the al-Qibli prayer hall this morning and surrounded the Palestinian worshipers inside.”  

Iranian media also noted the different routes of the flag march and examined the different parts of the old city that might be affected. “The Zionist regime police have identified two routes for the march today and have left the Zionist settlers free to choose either of these two routes. The first route, which is shorter, starts from West Jerusalem and after passing Bab al-Khalil [Hebron] — one of the historical gates of the old part of Jerusalem, it precedes to the Western Wall].”

"The march often sees clashes between Palestinians and settlers and Israeli police on the other hand,” the reports added.  

Jewish men carry Israeli national flags as they walk in an alley, inside Jerusalem's Old City, on Jerusalem Day, May 29, 2022. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

Iranian media also covered the Jewish visits to the Temple Mount and noted: "Yesterday, Palestinian groups, including Hamas, called on all Palestinians to come to Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Sunday, to prevent the Zionists from invading and desecrating this holy place.”

The point of the recent tensions is that Iran believes that this will lead to “intense tensions between the Palestinians and the Zionists due to the stubbornness and insistence of the Israeli regime in attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque.” This claim is a fabrication but it is one that Tehran wants to push in order to fan the flames of excuses regarding the violence that could break out. 

Overall, the Jerusalem Day events provide Iran with one more way in which to try to make its incitement relevant.

Much as Hezbollah has sought to remain relevant after performing badly in recent Lebanese elections, the Iranian regime attempts to do the same. Last year Iran encouraged Hamas to prepare massive salvos of rockets aimed at Israel in preparation for conflict.

Iran has used the recent tensions as an excuse to prepare more drones for attacks on Israel. The last year has seen a major increase in these drone threats. In order for Iran to use its weapons though, it requires some kind of increase in conflict between Israel and the Palestinians so as to use that conflict as cover for its own involvement.  

Firefighters are currently battling a fire near the illegal West Bank outpost Kumi Ori near the Yizhar settlement, where a Palestinian flag was found a the scene.

The Palestinian flag was found by Yizhar's volunteer firefighter unit who came to help fight the blaze, which had reached around 150 meters from the homes of residents.

The fire will be investigated later in the day.

A fire is seen in the Israeli settler outpost of Kumi Ori in the West Bank, on May 29, 2022. (credit: FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE)

Fires overnight

This follows multiple fires that broke out throughout the West Bank, including near Mount Kabir in Elon Moreh and near the illegal settlement outpost of Givat Ronen near Har Bracha.

These fires will also be investigated later today.

This is a developing story.

An 86-year-old man in Ashkelon was detained by police for attempting to kill his 86-year-old wife, according to a statement by Israel Police. 

The suspect allegedly strangled his wife until she lost consciousness. She is currently hospitalized and undergoing treatment. 

Police were notified by the suspect himself, who called them after she lost consciousness.

It is believed that the suspect tried to murder his wife during an argument between them.

Police plan to ask the Magistrate's Court today to extend the suspect's detention.

Al Jazeera can prove its journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was "killed by an Israeli bullet in cold blood," the network's US-based bureau chief Abderrahim Foukara told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

"The network has the evidence and the witnesses to support that position," he told the council. Under Ireland's auspices, the UNSC held an informal Arria-formula meeting in New York on Tuesday devoted to the global topic of the "protection of journalists."

But many of the speakers brought up Abu Akleh's killing.

"Al Jazeera is considering all possible legal options to make sure justice is done so that Shireen's killing does not end up swept up under the carpet of impunity," Foukara said. "Shireen Abu Akleh's life matters."