The capital was bracing Thursday for clashes and widespread friction during Jerusalem Day, which is set to see tens of thousands of national-religious revelers parade through the Old City as part of the holiday’s annual Flag March.

Thousands of police and Border Police officers were deployed throughout Jerusalem Thursday morning, particularly in the Old City. Palestinian shopkeepers in the Muslim Quarter have largely shuttered their businesses at the behest of law enforcement.

Jerusalem Day, which marks the reunification of the city under Israeli rule in the 1967 Six-Day War, is typically associated with the Flag March, an annual procession through the Old City to the Western Wall, where mass prayer is held.

Some extremist Jewish youth in the lead-up to and during the parade have been known to harass and beat Palestinians, as well as vandalize their property during the procession, especially as it enters the Old City through the Muslim Quarter’s Damascus Gate.

A Palestinian shopkeeper, who declined to give his name to The Times of Israel, said he planned to close his business at 3 p.m., several hours before the Flag March is set to enter the Old City.

He noted that in comparison to previous years, a larger number of business owners decided not to open at all. Others were seen taping padlocks to the entrances of their shops.

The march typically takes place in the afternoon of Jerusalem Day, which falls this year on Thursday evening and ends Friday night, but has been moved up to Thursday afternoon, before the holiday officially begins, to avoid running into the start of the Shabbat day of........

© The Times of Israel