Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community is planning a mass protest on the day of the International Gay Pride Parade to be held in Jerusalem next month. One leaflet published by the community read, “we must do everything to banish this disgrace from the Holy City.”
But religious Jews will not be alone as Moslems are also outraged over the upcoming event.
“If gays will dare approach the Temple Mount during the parade, they will do so over our dead bodies,” Arab Member of Knesset Ibrahim Sarsur said.
Rabbis have declared “holy war” as they fear religious youths will be exposed to homosexuality. They have signed a statement calling on the ultra-Orthodox community to block the parade “with their bodies.”
However, Noa Satat, chairwoman of the Open House organization said, “the Gay Pride events all over the world will demonstrate to the Israeli public and the world that Jerusalem is accepting of every human being created in God’s image; the events will present a tolerant, loving and respectful Jerusalem.”