Defying a police veto, a group of 200 gay pride activists held a silent protest vigil in a central Jerusalem park on Thursday, after their long-planned international city parade was canceled due to the war in Lebanon. The heavily guarded demonstration, which was ignored by the city's haredi community, was allowed to take place after organizers adhered to the police conditions for the gathering, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said. | “'We believe that the holiness of Jerusalem is increased by this city being the center of tolerance and coexistence,' said Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen...” |
The low-key event, which was one-fifth the size organizers had planned, came near the culmination of six-day World Pride Event in Jerusalem, which was overshadowed by the war in Lebanon and the police decision to bar their planned parade through the streets of Jerusalem. A huge red banner at the protest read "Jerusalem is for all," while rainbow-colored placards included such slogans as "The Path to God is not always straight" and "Senseless hatred."
| “'At a time when Jewish blood is being spilt in Lebanon, all that these self-indulgent narcissistic selfish perverted people can think about is engaging in sodomy,' said New York Rabbi Yehuda Levin...” |
Some Israeli motorists shouted at the protesters to go to Lebanon and alternatively to relocate to Palestinian-ruled Gaza. "At a time when Jewish blood is being spilt in Lebanon, all that these self-indulgent narcissistic selfish perverted people can think about is engaging in sodomy," said New York Rabbi Yehuda Levin, of the Orthodox 'Rabbinical Alliance of America' and the 'Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the US and Canada' who has been spearheading an international campaign against the parade.