In the first Israeli Jerusalem Day rally to go through the heart of Palestinian East Jerusalem, marchers draped in the white and blue Israeli flag flooded towards flashpoint neighborhood Sheikh Jarrah, where they continued to the Jewish-revered Western Wall inside Jerusalem's Old City. The annual event usually passes through West Jerusalem, and its re-routing saw 3,000 Israeli police deployed to avert violence, the force's spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. 24 people, both Jews and Palestinians, were arrested during the day after instances of racist epithets, fistfights, and stone-throwing.

Jerusalem Day marks the anniversary of Israel's capture of the Eastern part of the city during the 1967 Middle East War. Israel annexed East Jerusalem as part of its capital in a move not recognized internationally.

Here's a look at the parade:

Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 1 of 7
An Israeli youth waves a national flag during the annual parade in Jerusalem. REUTERS
Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 2 of 7
A small boy with an Israeli national flag draped over his shoulders stands at a crosswalk as the parade goes on nearby. REUTERS
Israelis wave national flags
Israelis wave national flags Reuters
Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 4 of 7
Over 40,000 people marched through the streets of Jerusalem. REUTERS
Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 5 of 7
A large crowd of Israelis gather at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. REUTERS
Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 6 of 7
Palestinian onlookers watch as Israeli youths covered in national flags take part in the parade. REUTERS
Jerusalem Day Celebration in Israel 7 of 7
An Israeli youth with a national flag draped over his shoulders walks towards the parade marking Jerusalem Day near the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. REUTERS
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