By John Jalsevac
JERUSALEM, June 14, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A spokesman for Israeli police has said the police have decided to allow a proposed gay pride parade to take place in Jerusalem next Thursday, despite massive opposition from residents of the city.
“Police had decided to allow a march of homosexuals in the centre of Jerusalem which will finish with a party in a public park,” said spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Another police spokesman, however, said that it it still possible the police could cancel the event if they deemed it necessary for public safety and security.
Previously authorities had issued a preliminary go-ahead for the homosexual parade, but said that they would need to make a final decision at a point closer to the day of the actual event. That decision, which was supposed to be made earlier this week, was postponed for some 48 hours until 11:20pm Wednesday night, reports the Jerusalem Post.
Over 7,000 police offers will be deployed on the day of the march in order to maintain order. Previous attempts at holding the gay pride parade have provoked a massive public outcry and numerous counter-demonstrations, some of which have turned violent. A public opinion poll conducted in 2005 indicated that some three quarters of the residents of the city were opposed to the event. Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders have all condemned the event as a direct insult against their religions and as degrading the Holy City.
Already, Orthodox Jews are scheduling a counter-protest for this upcoming Sunday. Organizers say that they expect upwards of 100,000 participants. Smaller protests have broken out spontaneously across the city since police announced their decision.
Numerous attempts have been made to ban the event ever since homosexuals first tried to hold their demonstration in the Holy City. Last year’s parade was cancelled by city officials due to fears that it would offend religious groups. Instead the homosexual demonstrators were permitted to hold an alternative event in a stadium.
Last week several bills passed first reading in the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament; if made into law the bills would give Jerusalem the power to ban such events as the gay pride parade.
“Government support for the legislation would allow the Jerusalem municipality to ban parades and marches that harm the public’s feeling and therefore prevent the humiliation of the holy city by devious and marginal groups,” said Minister Eli Yishai.
The proposed legislation, however, will not be ready prior to this year’s scheduled parade.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage
Jerusalem Police Authorize Gay Pride Parade But Legislation May Block Event
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07052901.html
Israeli Parliament Gives Initial Approval to Bill Forbidding Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07060707.html