Jerusalem gay parade may lead to another war
Pastor Dale Morgan
Jerusalem gay parade may lead to another war*
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square
against holding of 2006 Gay Pride Parade in city; ‘war in Lebanon broke
out as soon as the parade was announced,’ haredi man says. Head of Eda
Haredit rabbinic court: We did not succeed in Lebanon due to promiscuity
in Holy Land
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protested at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square
Wednesday against the holding of the 2006 Gay Pride Parade in the city,
with most of them linking the parade to the recent war in Lebanon.
The parade is scheduled to take place on November 10.
Sign reads, 'J'lem is not Sodom, Amsterdam or New York.' (Photo: Hain Tzach)
“The war in the north broke out as soon as the parade was announced,” a
Mea Shearim resident told Ynet.
The parade was canceled due to the war, but gay rights groups acted to
set another date for the parade since the fighting has ceased.
Extreme Right
Marzel declares 'holy war' against gay parade / Ynet
Compromise reached between gay rights groups, police, Jerusalem
Municipality, and State Prosecution to hold gay parade on November 10.
Extreme rightist threatens to thwart event
“Rabbis are fearful of another war,” the haredi said, adding that a
special request has been forwarded to Diaspora Jews “so they too would
protest and act for the preservation of Jerusalem’s sanctity.”
Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, the head of the Eda Haredit rabbinic court, said
during the rally, “We did not succeed in Lebanon due to the obscenity
and promiscuity in the Holy Land.”
The rabbi quoted Rabbi Wasserman, who said during the Holocaust that
“Zionism has destroyed the Land of Israel’s sanctity; this is how the
troubles of the Shoah began, and this is why we must act to wend the
promiscuity.
“There is no greater disturbance than the disgraceful parade,” Rabbi
Sternbuch said.
'Renewal of violence possible'
Despite the fact that Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski called out against
holding the parade in the city, many in the haredi community hold him
directly responsible.
“The municipality did not protest against the holding of the terrible
abomination parade,” Rabbi Sternbuch said.
The haredim also presented other “divine signs” against the Jerusalem
gay parade: The parsha for the Sabbath following the parade is Vayera
from the book of Genesis, which tells of the total destruction of Sodom
by G-d.
The parade falls on the day after the 16th anniversary of the murder of
Rabbi Meir Kahane, and his followers, who are expected visit his grave
on the Mount of Olives on the day the parade is scheduled to take place,
said they would ‘take advantage of the memorial ceremony for Kahane to
fight the gay parade.’
The Open House organization said the renewed campaign against the gay
parade will not deter community members or prevent the parade from
taking place.
“The Pride and Tolerance Parade in Jerusalem is a human rights rally
aimed at promoting freedom of expression and pluralism,” the group’s
acting chairperson said.
“Therefore we respect the right of those who object to the parade to
express their views in a legitimate manner; however, we warn of a
renewal of the incitement and violence.”