Interfaith leaders lead Jerusalem march for peace and justice, countering rising violence during Jerusalem Day tensions and settler attacks.
Newsroom (20/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Holding placards bearing the words “justice,” “trust,” and “peace,” hundreds of interfaith activists gathered in Jerusalem on May 18 in a public demonstration of solidarity and coexistence. The march, led by religious leaders and organized by the Forum for Human Rights, brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze in a symbolic counterpoint to the rising tensions that have marked recent Jerusalem Day celebrations.
Now in its fourth year, the interfaith march has emerged as an alternative to the annual Jerusalem Day Flag Parade, an event commemorating the 1967 reunification of East and West Jerusalem under Israeli control. While the official parade draws thousands of Israeli ultra-nationalists, it has increasingly been criticized for incidents of violence and harassment, particularly as marchers pass through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City under heavy police presence. Palestinian residents, activists say, are often subjected to verbal and physical attacks, while journalists and Israeli left-wing activists have also reported being targeted.
Against this backdrop, the interfaith gathering began in the courtyard of the historic YMCA building just outside the Old City walls. Participants included clergy from multiple faith traditions, religious women, families, young people, and ultra-Orthodox Jews. The event opened with a prayer for mercy sung in Aramaic by Jerusalem Christian Nadeen Fanous, setting a tone of reflection and unity.
“We march this evening out of a deep commitment to the sanctity of life,” said Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, co-chair of the Board of Rabbis for Human Rights. “Precisely in these days when it is so easy to become accustomed to pain, to fear and to the language that divides us, we seek to remind ourselves that life precedes every conflict.”
Fanous emphasized the importance of mutual recognition in overcoming divisions. “It is hard to hear the discussions that keep us apart,” she said. “If we don’t see each other, we can’t work for the vision each of us has. We must build a common vision.”
Participants echoed similar sentiments throughout the gathering. Sister Monica Dullmann, a German nun who has lived in Jerusalem for decades, described the march as a rare but powerful expression of shared purpose. “I believe in peace and justice,” she said. “Together we will be stronger. I have always believed peace is possible and I still believe it.”
For many attendees, the march also served as a response to the tensions witnessed just days earlier during the Flag Parade. Jerusalem resident Lilach Friedland described the official celebrations as “sad and racist,” contrasting them with what she saw as “buds of peace” at the YMCA gathering.
Families also participated in the march, viewing it as an opportunity to model coexistence for future generations. Avraham and Shlomit Kelman, an Orthodox Jewish couple, brought their two young sons. “We are here in solidarity with other people of different religions and nationalities,” Avraham said. “It is the contradiction of Jerusalem—there is so much love and hatred at the same time—but it shows there can be another way.”
As the march made its way toward Jaffa Gate, passing curious shopkeepers and receiving occasional honks of support, its message extended beyond symbolic gestures. Participants highlighted ongoing violence in the region, including the killing of 16-year-old Palestinian Yousef Ali Yousef Ka’abna on May 13 during a clash involving settlers and Israeli forces in the West Bank.
According to human rights activists, the teenager was shot amid a settler rampage through several villages north of Ramallah. The Israeli military stated that forces had been deployed to remove civilians entering the village and to address a reported livestock theft, confirming the incident was under investigation after reports of casualties.
The killing is part of what activists describe as a broader escalation in settler violence since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 250 abducted. Since then, human rights groups have documented a significant increase in both the frequency and severity of attacks on Palestinian communities.
In the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, parish priest Father Bashar Fawadleh reported intensifying harassment, particularly following the establishment of a nearby settlement outpost. Residents have faced restricted movement, road closures, and repeated attacks affecting their ability to work and access essential resources. The nearby Ein Samia area, the region’s only water source, has also come under threat, compounding humanitarian concerns.
Druze activist Nadia Attallah attended the Jerusalem march not only in support of interfaith peace but also to draw attention to violence beyond Israel and Palestine. She cited the massacres of Syrian Druze by Bedouin militia in Suwayda in 2025. “Peace is the only way,” she said.
Religious leaders underscored the importance of continued dialogue and prayer. Father Piotr Zelazko, a Polish priest serving Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel, led participants in singing “We Shall Overcome” as they reached Jaffa Gate. “If we stop praying for peace, there will be no peace,” he said. “When religions walk together, peace will walk with them.”
Zelazko acknowledged Jerusalem’s long history of conflict but framed the march as a step toward transformation. “We want to end this,” he said. “This initiative is a little step to finish the conflict.”
In a city often defined by deep divisions, the interfaith march offered a different narrative—one rooted in shared humanity and collective hope. While modest in scale compared to the nationalist celebrations it seeks to counter, its participants view it as a vital expression of resistance to violence and a reminder that alternative paths remain possible.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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