News
2006-09-19
Jerusalem pride
granted parade permit
Gay rights
activists in Jerusalem, after a long series of setbacks,
received permission Monday to hold their annual pride parade
Novem
Gay rights
activists in Jerusalem, after a long series of setbacks,
received permission Monday to hold their annual pride parade
November 10 in the holy city, the Israeli daily
Yedioth Ahronoth reported, while a
right-wing leader vowed a "holy war" to "thwart" the
event.
Police, civic
authorities, and Jerusalem Open House reached an agreement
after three hours of talks at the High Court compound in
Jerusalem.
"We're very proud
of our legal achievement," Open House executive
director Hagai El-Ad told Advocate.com on Monday. "The
highest court of the land came back with the opinion
that freedom of speech should not come to potential
violence, and that it is the duty of the police to
protect free-speech rights. That's important not just for
gays but for all minorities."
The group had
sought to hold the pride parade in conjunction with
WorldPride festivities last month. It was denied a police
permit, as has happened in past years, but did not
contest the decision immediately because of the
fast-developing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah
in southern Lebanon.
"We postponed but
did not give up," wrote journalist Noa Raz on
Ynetnews.com. "Deep in our hearts we knew the right day will
come and that we'll again be able to take the bus to
Jerusalem, walk the streets, feeling the sun and
surrounded by light."
The rest of
WorldPride went on as scheduled, despite ultra-Orthodox
threats and protests heightened by the larger scale and
influx of world visitors to Jerusalem's usual gay
celebrations.
Open House then
sought to hold the parade September 21 but was told that
the day before Rosh Hashanah was inappropriate for the
event.
"There will be a
holy war against this event. The outcome was
predictable. We will do everything we can to thwart the
parade," extreme rightist Baruch Marzel told
Yedioth Ahronoth as he left the courtroom
Monday.
Even before
entering the courthouse, an argument broke out between the
two sides, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Mina
Panton, a city councilwoman from the National Religious
Party, showed reporters a snapshot of graffiti that
said "Jerusalem is proud and liberated" above a sketch
of two lions riding one another.
"This is a
disgrace to the symbol of Jerusalem, which is holier than
the Israeli flag," Panton said.
Countered Open
House members: "This is a symbol of freedom of
expression and our right to live in this city." (The
Advocate)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1