Ministers voted Tuesday to allow the controversial far-right flag march to take place in Jerusalem’s Old City next Tuesday, June 15, with a route to be decided between the rally's organizers and police.
The decision came following a compromise between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
The so-called "Flag Parade" normally takes place on Jerusalem Day that falls in May, but was interrupted this year when Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at the capital from the Gaza Strip, marking the start of an 11-day conflict.
It was also called off in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During the meeting, security officials warned that the parade's traditional route, which passes through the Damascus Gate, the Muslim Quarter and ending in the Western Wall, could lead to a flare-up in tensions not only within the city but possibly also in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and other locations across Israel.
Although Netanyahu agreed to hold the march next Tuesday, members of Netanyahu's Likud party called for the event to take place on Thursday as originally played.
During the meeting, Transportation Minister Miri Regev slammed IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochai and Police Commisenor Yaakov Shabtai, saying: "The big army, police and Shin Bet cannot guard the parade."
The rescheduled rally will come just two days after Knesset holds a vote to approve the new government, which would remove Netanyahu from his post after a record 12 years in power.
"We are waiting and hoping to march through the streets of Jerusalem according to the original route," organizers said. "If the police need until Tuesday to get organized, we will respect that. Tomorrow, we will demand from police to retain the original route."