Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 29, 2008 Sivan 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:27 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 09:26 24/06/2008
High Court rejects petition asking to ban Jerusalem Gay Pride parade
By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Jerusalem, Gay Pride, gay 

The High Court of Justice on Monday rejected a petition submitted by Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir, followers of slain ultra-rightist Rabbi Meir Kahane, in their bid to prevent a Gay Pride parade from being held in Jerusalem this week.

The parade will take place as planned on Thursday.

In the past, opposition to the parade has been spearheaded by ultra-Orthodox groups, with yeshiva students protesting in night-long battles with police. But the ultra-Orthodox have maintained a low profile this year, apparently wary of drawing more attention to the parade.
Advertisement
In their ruling, the justices took into consideration the parade route, the length of time it would take and the organizer's promise that the parade would be muted in nature.

Earlier Monday, the judges recommended that the petitioners withdraw their petition. During the hearing, Justice Ayala Procaccia said that "a proper balance must be maintained between the desires of the gay/lesbian community to march, and the feelings of the city's residents - it is important that such parades become a matter of routine instead of causing a commotion every year."

Last Thursday, the Jerusalem municipality called on the High Court of Justice to ban the parade, saying it was a "provocation that harms the delicate texture that exists in Jerusalem."

The organizers of the parade responded that "all the parties in Jerusalem, including the police and the representatives of the ultra-Orthodox, have found ways to work together, so as to spare the city needless hate. The parade will be conducted quietly and with pride."

The march is expected to depart from Gan Ha'atzmaut in Jerusalem, continue through King David Street and will end in a big rally at Gan Hapa'amon.

It appears that the protests against the Gay Pride parade will be far less substantial than in previous years, especially because of the religious community's understanding that it is precisely their protest that grants so much publicity to the event and exposes their youth to the gay/lesbian community.

Related articles:
  • Haredis won't protest Jerusalem Gay Pride parade to minimize its publicity
  • Ten years on, Gay Pride parade still gets Tel Aviv dancing
  • Jerusalem officials to High Court: Gay Pride parade desecrates holy city
  • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Haniyeh's plea
    Hamas leader in Gaza says rocket fire must stop for sake of Palestinians.
    Softening position
    Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit.
      1.   If the haredim are worried... 19:14  |  Josh Goldman 23/06/08
      2.   Gays overwhelm Orthodox fanatics 19:16  |  Ulf 23/06/08
      3.   The Parade Is So Suitable... 19:33  |  Dave 23/06/08
      4.   Mazoltov on a moral, logical and just ruling. 19:49  |  anti-racist 23/06/08
      5.   congratulations 21:05  |  alan 23/06/08
      6.   Josh Goldman 21:50  |  Mary Ashkelon 23/06/08
      7.   The mullahs are at it again 23:16  |  Daniel BegovArayot 23/06/08
      8.   # 6 mary 23:26  |  Axel 23/06/08
      9.   Gay Shame 23:45  |  Rav Harley 23/06/08
      10.   Mary Ashkelon 00:13  |  Josh Goldman 24/06/08
      11.   Gay celebration 04:38  |  straight as an arrow 24/06/08
      12.   #6 Mary, because they LIVE THERE! 05:24  |  DesMnsDave 24/06/08
      13.   Yakoub Suleiman,before you are converting yet again,more importan 09:26  |  Genuine Tosefta 24/06/08
      14.   Josh Goldman - last word from me 09:38  |  Mary Ashkelon 24/06/08
      15.   Mary 10:12  |  Bar 24/06/08
      16.   #11 You are not 99 % of the population 10:17  |  Ulf 24/06/08
      17.   About time 10:21  |  Motic 24/06/08
      18.   GOLDMAN"Homosexuality is rampant amongst the ultra-orthodox" ??? 10:24  |  PETER SM 24/06/08
      19.   Jerusalem is my city too! 10:26  |  Michal 24/06/08
      20.   HIGHT COURT IS RIGHT. 10:59  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 24/06/08
      21.   Mary - last word from me 11:20  |  Josh Goldman 24/06/08
      22.   Josh Goldmann`s Hatred of the (practicing) Jewish People 11:36  |  Baruch Gold 24/06/08
      23.   Even if you are left and liberal, the ACT is disgusting, come on! 11:38  |  Harvey (Chaim) 24/06/08
      24.   #11 straight as an arrow 11:47  |  hala 24/06/08
      25.   Josh Goldman would vehemently oppose parade thru E.Jlem 12:17  |  Absolute Sweden 24/06/08
      26.   Let Gays have Parade on Temple Mount? 13:07  |  Baruch Gold 24/06/08
      27.   `Absolute` 13:27  |  Josh Goldman 24/06/08
      28.   ULF; are you saying that we tolerate gays´ intolerance of others? 13:29  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      29.   Alicia - perverted logic 14:00  |  Sylvie 24/06/08
      30.   #26 You had all wrong Alice... 14:01  |  Ulf 24/06/08
      31.   GOLDMAN re `rampant` be lying would you? 14:06  |  PETER SM 24/06/08
      32.   Mary 14:16  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      33.   ULF: you wrote "parading through Meah Shearim and Kotel" 14:23  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      34.   #31 Religious and sexual acts 14:35  |  Ulf 24/06/08
      35.   ULF and sexual deviations among the orthos 14:44  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      36.   to Alicia Yasmeen 14:53  |  Puhi 24/06/08
      37.   #36 Puhi, the answer to your question is "yes". 15:04  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      38.   alicia 15:07  |  Axel 24/06/08
      39.   Josh #27 15:23  |  Janice Peters 24/06/08
      40.   Religious Jews need to win over secular to their way of life 15:32  |  Sam 24/06/08
      41.   Puhi 16:17  |  bar 24/06/08
      42.   Janice - are you playing for laughs? 16:17  |  Josh Goldman 24/06/08
      43.   Alicia , and tolerance 16:26  |  bar 24/06/08
      44.   #41 Bar; why don´t you call it anti-religions parade? 17:34  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      45.   #38 AXEL; beside the point 17:36  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/06/08
      46.   Without the Bible are historical ties aren`t impressive 18:17  |  Aaron 24/06/08
      47.   alicia 18:19  |  Axel 24/06/08
      48.   Alicia 18:43  |  Bar 24/06/08
      49.   Routine parade 19:56  |  Dror 24/06/08
      50.   straight as an arrow 20:07  |  Straight as a Ruler 24/06/08
      51.   The fact remains... 23:52  |  Yet another Josh 24/06/08
      52.   Josh you are right 08:36  |  the pope 25/06/08
      53.   to Aaron 09:37  |  Puhi 25/06/08
      54.   #37 A-J: Three questions and one answer? 14:34  |  Ulf 25/06/08
      55.   #54 ULF the 3 answers to 3 questions 15:43  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/06/08
      56.   #55 Gay parading is also for fun 16:59  |  Ulf 25/06/08
      57.   Alicia , no reaction to my # 48 ? 17:08  |  bar 25/06/08
      58.   Ulf 18:10  |  charles 25/06/08
      59.   #57 BAR, sorry about my delayed reply to you 18:51  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/06/08
      60.   Alicia 20:24  |  Bar 25/06/08
      61.   #58 Indeed parades are tourist attractions 21:52  |  Ulf 25/06/08
     Read & React
    Iran military chief says Israel can't stop nuclear program
    Responses: 201
    Top Hamas official: We'll stop anyone who breaks Gaza truce
    Responses: 229
    Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit
    Responses: 129
    'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book
    Responses: 251
    Amos Shocken: Citizenship law makes Israel an apartheid state
    Responses: 236
    Rosner's Domain
    Can Israel legaly attack Iran with nuclear weapons?
    Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman?
    "The war in Iraq was inevitable" (WTR)
    Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad?
    Do Jews have special responsibility over Darfur? (WTR)


    More Headlines
    03:52 Cabinet to vote on prisoner swap with Hezbollah Sunday
    02:33 ANALYSIS / Five myths about prisoner exchange deals
    02:14 Bereaved father: Who will protect my sons once terrorists are released?
    02:57 Peer shocks Safina to slide into Wimbledon fourth round
    03:46 Mixing business with pleasure / Sarkozy's visit to Israel
    <