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Gay Pride Parade in Israel last year (Tomer Neuberg/Jini )
Last update - 20:29 26/06/2008
3,000 turn out for contentious Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Jerusalem, Jewish World 

Some 3,000 people turned out Thursday to take part in the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade, which as in previous years, had sparked an outcry from the ultra-Orthodox community in the capital. But the parade, unlike in previous years, passed without incident.

Past marches have been marred by violent demonstrations by the ultra-Orthodox. This year there were only small-scale protests away from the march route, and police said one protester was arrested.

"The Haredis have understood this year that the fight [against the parade] is a shot in the foot," said Sa'ar Netanel, a member of Jerusalem's city council for the leftist Meretz party.
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According to Netanel, who is also a representative of the gay and lesbian community in Jerusalem, the community has been experiencing "bad years" since Mayor Uri Lupolianski took office. "The parade has been happening for seven years," Netanel said, "this year there is no acceptance but there is peace."

On Wednesday, residents in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim night burnt trash to protest the parade. Police expect the level opposition to intensify on Thursday ahead of the parade and as it ensues.

The parade set out from Independence Park at 4 P.M., meandering along Agron Street and King David Street and concluding with a rally in Liberty Bell Park.

The area is still considered central Jerusalem, but organizers planned the march away from heavily-populated residential neighborhoods, along relatively side streets, to prevent friction and protests.

Police and event organizers said that this year they met with representatives of the ultra-Orthodox community ahead of the event, in an effort to ensure that the rally took place in a calm atmosphere, and to avoid incitment.

Only 2,000 police officers were on hand at the parade - 10,000 fewer than were deployed last year.

On Wednesday, Jerusalem police launched an investigation after Netanel received an envelope from an anonymous source which contained white powder.

The High Court of Justice earlier this week rejected a petition submitted by right-wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel calling for the parade to be banned.

Lupolianski backed the request, in a joint letter with city manager Yair Ma'ayan to the High court. The letter claimed that holding the parade within the capital would offend public sensibilities.

Last year, roughly 3,500 people marched in the Jerusalem parade, as some 1,500 ultra-Orthodox men and right-wing activists demonstrated against the event. Several arrests were made.

Related articles:
  • High Court rejects petition asking to ban Jerusalem Gay Pride parade
  • Haredis won't protest Jerusalem Gay Pride parade to minimize its publicity
  • Jerusalem officials to High Court: Gay parade desecrates holy city
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      1.   Yeah! Through Meah Sharim & Temple Mount! 11:41  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      2.   Please be polite, dress modestly and have a nice day 12:04  |  Allon 26/06/08
      3.   Let Gays March in Tel Aviv do Not Insult people 12:21  |  Baruch Gold 26/06/08
      4.   # 2 i will dont worry 12:57  |  SJ 26/06/08
      5.   #2 So, fun without any fun 13:02  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      6.   Ulf - Tel Aviv ppl in TA seem much more depressed to me 14:23  |  Allon 26/06/08
      7.   It`s called Freedom Of Assembly People - Deal with it! 14:43  |  B`Galil 26/06/08
      8.   #4 SJ; THANK YOU. Carpe Diem! 14:58  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/06/08
      9.   #6 About Israeli cities... 15:08  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      10.   Ulf - I`m there are some things you wouldn`t allow anyone to see 15:15  |  Allon 26/06/08
      11.   Ulf - 7, honestly 15:30  |  Allon 26/06/08
      12.   Baruch Gold.. 15:59  |  Daniel 26/06/08
      13.   Allon, your moving letters with beautiful, deep, insight 16:27  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/06/08
      14.   ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT G-D DOESN`T EXIST! 16:57  |  BILL HANDEL 26/06/08
      15.   The gays are similar to those they claim to oppose 17:14  |  adavis 26/06/08
      16.   They transform their position in im-position 18:14  |  Footnote 26/06/08
      17.   The protests have to go on! 19:16  |  Avi Yerushalmi 26/06/08
      18.   It is a curse for you???? 19:23  |  George Duraisingh 26/06/08
      19.   #14 There is God or not god... 19:27  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      20.   #13 A-Y Deep is shallow and superficial profound? 19:32  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      21.   I hear there are 2000 Police for a 100 Queers 19:35  |  Harry 26/06/08
      22.   #18 Old lady frightening kids... 19:44  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      23.   To Harry... 19:50  |  Hans 26/06/08
      24.   It`s called "Freedom of Assembly" in a democratic state! 20:01  |  Adam Diamant 26/06/08
      25.   At least they can march without fear unlike in Muslim countries 20:06  |  August West 26/06/08
      26.   #1 Ulf 20:16  |  MR 26/06/08
      27.   Waste of money 20:20  |  Stuart Winton 26/06/08
      28.   See the Pintele Yid first 21:29  |  Schtarker Yid 26/06/08
      29.   #12 Daniel Gay Parades Are Not Political 21:46  |  Baruch Gold 26/06/08
      30.   When will the gay Arabs march in Mecca or Ramallah? 21:55  |  Roger 26/06/08
      31.   Are There Going to be Parades Celebrating Other Disorders? 22:04  |  MIKE 26/06/08
      32.   Tonight another 20% will be injected with hiv.Soon no more parade 22:29  |  Rueben 26/06/08
      33.   #26 Why not in Teheran? 23:03  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      34.   gay parade 23:03  |  malach hamovess 26/06/08
      35.   #21 Do you mean that there are some gays 23:05  |  Ulf 26/06/08
      36.   Starker Yid - that is how we will merit the 3rd beis haMikdash 23:06  |  Allon 26/06/08
      37.   NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE 7,000+ GAYS 23:22  |  CRIS 26/06/08
      38.   The way to handle the obnoxious 23:38  |  Yaakov 26/06/08
      39.   #29 gold to #12 daniel 23:43  |  casual observer 26/06/08
      40.   # 30 your ignorance is scary 23:59  |  SJ 26/06/08
      41.   #21 To protect us from people like you harry 00:05  |  SJ 27/06/08
      42.   #29 Baruch Jerusalem is the democratic capital of all jews 00:10  |  SJ 27/06/08
      43.   Baruch Gold 00:16  |  Daniel 27/06/08
      44.   There is also no Gay Parade in Franz Josef Land. 00:37  |  Andreas 27/06/08
      45.   Pride 01:52  |  Peace thru gay sex 27/06/08
      46.   Israel must change! 02:18  |  Danny 27/06/08
      47.   #21 - Harry -- I can think of sources for the money 02:24  |  Slibovitz 27/06/08
      48.   Modest Dress 02:26  |  Slibovitz 27/06/08
      49.   Gay Parade 02:37  |  Rosalia Aguiar 27/06/08
      50.   Gay Parade Continuation 02:39  |  Rosalia Aguiar 27/06/08
      51.   Time to fight the spirit. Best protest, I`ve said all along would 03:45  |  be to gather the 27/06/08
      52.   "THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED,BUT HE HEARTH THE PRAYER OF THE 04:10  |  glenna 27/06/08
      53.   Lets be rational about homosexuality 04:36  |  David 27/06/08
      54.   WHY DO YOU QUOTE WHAT IS WORLDLY RATHER THAN WHAT SCRIPTURALLY 05:35  |  glenna 27/06/08
      55.   But a book says 06:14  |  Donald 27/06/08
      56.   A HOMOSEXUAL IS NOT HOMOSEXUAL BY ACCIDENT;IT`S A CHOICE! CHOOSE 07:11  |  glenna 27/06/08
      57.   casual observer... 12:50  |  Daniel 27/06/08
      58.   Pride of Judaism 14:46  |  Thoma 27/06/08
      59.   When God looks upon Jerusalem, is this all you want Him to see? 17:17  |  Let Him see you 27/06/08
      60.   #56 Glenna Alaska 19:09  |  Ulf 27/06/08
      61.   #15 You have NO idea what it means to be gay 02:30  |  DesMnsDave 29/06/08
      62.   #56 Being gay is no more a choice than is being left-handed 02:36  |  DesMnsDave 29/06/08
      63.   #59 When HaShem looks on Jerusalem, He`ll see ALL that he created 02:38  |  DesMnsDave 29/06/08
      64.   #62 YOU GO ON BELIEVING SCIENTIST AND CHARLES DARWIN AS FOR ME 04:33  |  glenna 29/06/08
      65.   #64 Glenna, you obviously need help 11:15  |  DesMnsDave 29/06/08
      66.   Jerusalem will never accept the gay parade 15:36  |  Jo 29/06/08
      67.   desmnsdave 03:48  |  potobac 30/06/08
      68.   Choice or congenital 11:44  |  Ulf 30/06/08
      69.   #65 YOU HAVE IT BACKWARDS;YOU ARE NOT ETERNALLY DAMNED FOR CARNAL 17:54  |  glenna 30/06/08