7000 march for pride

More than 7000 participants marched in the annual Jerusalem Pride Parade last Thursday without major incident, after threats of violence were made against an organiser of the march and lawmakers who planned to attend.

The event was the 20th Pride Parade in Israel’s capital.

Addressing crowds at the conclusion of the parade, Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy said he was “shocked to the depths of my soul” over the threats of violence.

“So I came today to stand against this evil spectre,” Levy said, expressing his support for the equality of LGBTQ citizens.

“You are entitled to love who you want, you are entitled to marry who you love, you are entitled to raise a family like anyone else. These are not privileges, these are basic rights for every citizen in the country.”

Social Equality Minister Meirav Cohen and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev also joined the thousands of marchers.

Barlev called the parade “a victory of light over darkness, a victory of sanity over extremism”. He lamented that police were forced to provide security at the “colourful and beautiful” event, “instead of protecting citizens from crime and terror”.

Ten people were arrested in Jerusalem and taken for questioning by police over suspicions that they intended to harm participants.

Among them were two men from Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, who police allege intended to attack people at the parade. Police said officers searched a car they deemed suspicious and found tear gas inside their vehicle.

Police were on high alert on Thursday in the lead-up to the march and said they would be deploying more than 2400 officers to protect it. Police had identified and were monitoring some 180 people who could pose a threat to participants. At least 20 of the suspects were considered highly likely to try and attack the event, they said.

Pride events in Jerusalem are always tense affairs, with right-wing and religious counter-protests a constant, along with a history of deadly violence.

TIMES OF ISRAEL