Haredim mull sabotaging gay parade

Haredim, Yesha council prepare counter demonstration to sabotage gay pride parade in Jerusalem

Neta Sela|Published: 10.26.06 , 05:00

The haredi sector is organizing mass protests to sabotage the gay pride parade which will be held in Jerusalem on November 10.

United Torah Judaism is leading the campaign with plans to hold a protest on King George Street where parade will pass.

Sources told Ynet the demonstration is expected to draw about 250,000 people.

UTJ MK Meir Porush confirmed the reports and said "there are talks," adding the issue "has started to reach high octaves."

"The minute we decide on a course of action, the issue will be passed on to rabbis for approval."

The Kahane Chai movement announced it is planning a counter march from the Western Wall to the Garden of Independence.

A day before the gay parade, members of the group will commemorate the death of their leader rabbi Meir Kahane who was assassinated in New York 16 years ago and buried on the Mount of Olives.

Members of the national religious sector also have plans for a counter demonstration. Sources told Ynet they are planning "to do everything to cancel the parade. From demonstration to blocking roads." Organizers have recruited settler youths, Yesha activists and even Arabs to prepare for the counter demonstration.

No word from Shas

In a surprising manner Shas is preparing nothing. The only voice heard from the faction about the demonstration was a call by rabbi Ovadia Yosef for a million-strong counter demonstration.

But a Shas activist said "there are no talks in this direction yet."

He added however that the rabbi is planning to condemn the parade in new remarks.

Jerusalem police officers tried to prevent organizers from holding the parade in the capital but the High Court ruled that the parade be allowed.

Police are allowed however to postpone or cancel the parade over security concerns.

On Wednesday police said the Yesha council will bring 70,000 protesters to the capital on November 10 for a counter demonstration.

Speaking to Ynet senior Yesha officials said the issue has not been discussed but "that's a good idea actually."