Clashes erupt during Jerusalem Day march

"I'm here because it's important to support Israel, not the occupation," said Nina Morris-Evans, who was a signatory of the open letter to Lord Sacks.

"When the police clears the area to let them march and shout 'Death to Arabs', I cannot identify with the Jewish people."

Earlier, the High Court of Justice was asked to overturn the police decision to allow the parade to pass through the mainly Arab part of the city.

Organised by left-wing activist group Ir Amim, the petition argued that the route would mean that Muslim residents would be “besieged from all directions” and that it would make travelling from the north to the south of the city impossible.

Ir Amim has long protested about the event and last year the police were also criticised by the High Court for not doing enough to prevent anti-Arab racism and incitement.

Security has been particularly heavy this year, due to the momentous 50^th anniversary. Earlier in the day a confrontation developed next to the Dome of the Rock between Muslim guards and queues of Jews wanting to visit the Temple Mount. Some of the Jewish participants were taken away by police and questioned, according to Haaretz.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Reuven Rivlin are due to attend a state ceremony marking the occasion at Ammunition Hill this evening.