Israel okays laws banning Gay Pride Parades
Pastor Dale Morgan
Israel okays laws banning Gay Pride Parades*
Two bills aimed at preventing gay pride parade from being held in
Jerusalem, and across Israel, approved in first reading by Knesset
Wednesday. 'This bill is meant to prevent bloodshed and internal
strife,' NRP MK explains
Amnon Meranda
Published: 06.06.07, 15:48 / Israel News
The Knesset approved Wednesday in a first reading two bills aimed at
preventing the gay pride parade from taking place in Jerusalem, and in
any other place in the country.
The bills were submitted by MK Eliahu Gabbay (National Union-NRP) and
Shas MKs.
Open House:
'Don't put us back in the closet' / Lilach Shoval, Efrat Weiss
Police give authorization in principle for Jerusalem pride parade. Route
yet to be resolved, will be based on analysis of security threats
The proposed amendment to Basic Law: Jerusalem, initiated by MK Gabbay,
would enable the Jerusalem municipal council to ban parades and rallies
in town for considerations of disturbance to public order, offending the
public's sensitivities or for religious considerations.
Forty MKs voted for Gabbay's bill and 23 opposed.
The Shas bill is more comprehensive and calls for a ban on pride parades
throughout the country. The bill was also approved, with 41 MKs voting
for it and 21 opposed.
The Prime minister's office stated that "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does
not think that Jerusalem is the appropriate location for holding
gay-pride parades due to the special sensitive nature of the city,
although he believes that such matters should not be limited by law."
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said that "the situation dictates this bill. It
is inconceivable that small and delusional groups, through PR moves,
will have a harmful affect on different cities, and those who wish to
desecrate Jerusalem should be denounced in particular."
In the session, MK Gabbay said, "The freedom of expression is not the
freedom of incitement, it's not an invitation to provocation… Those who
want to allow such a parade in Jerusalem confuse freedom with anarchy.
"Jerusalem has a special status as the capital, and as an international
city that is important to the three religions. Some people… want to
destabilize the relations between the communities instead of
contributing to building joint and harmonious life in the city."
According to the MK, "Each person's orientations are his own business
and belong to the private realm, as do homosexual tendencies. There is
no need to display them in public... The bill is meant to prevent
bloodshed and internal war and to bring about calm, for the sake of
tourism and the city's economy, which has suffered badly so far.
"The confrontations that have surrounded the parade so far dishonored
Jerusalem – our capital, and hurt its standing in Israel and the world."
Double-sided sword
Meretz faction chair, Zahava Gal-On said in response to the bills: "The
government has revealed the extent of its ineptness by allowing the
coalition members to vote freely, banning the gay parade in Jerusalem
and thereby denying the gay community's freedom of expression.
"A double-sided sword has been turned toward the community. The Knesset
is crazy, with a crazy government where the tyranny of the majority is
more important than human rights," she added.
Other Meretz MKs also reacted to the proposals. Avshalom Vilan agreed
with Gal-On: "This is a disgraceful time for the Knesset. The law is
anti-constitutional and we must exert efforts to ensure that the
legislation procedure does not go any further."
MK Chaim Oron said: "The Knesset is irresponsibly legislating laws that
violate basic rights. The problem lies not with those who proposed the
bills, who don't understand the basic rules of democracy, but with the
government and members of the coalition who have joined forces to pass
bills that no other democratic country would approve."
"The bill proposal is very dangerous. Looking past the pride parade this
creates a precedent where Jerusalem is the only city where freedom of
speech answers to the will of the mayor. I feel that we and democracy in
general are being harassed and we will continue our struggle," said Open
House chairperson Noa Sattath.