Officer and journalist wounded in anti-gay protest in Jerusalem

[Poll_Blind]

From Ha'aretz:

A police officer and a Haaretz photographer were wounded in a confrontation between ultra-Orthodox protesters and police forces in Jerusalem on Thursday, as demonstrations against the city's upcoming gay pride parade raged for the third consecutive day.

The police officer sustained a head injury and the photographer, Haaretz's Tomer Applebaum, was lightly wounded when a stone hit him above the eye.

In a related incident, an explosive device with an attached note reading "sodomizers out" was found in a security booth at the entrance to the West Bank settlement of Eli. Police believe the bomb was meant as a provocation, and was not intended to be detonated.

--snip--

A taxi driver and a bus driver had to be rescued by police from the mob. Eight of the rioters were detained and questioned.

Later in the night the clashes intensified, and police used water cannons, mounted police and special units to disperse the demonstration.

A more organized protest is expected in the neighborhood Thursday.

  Nothing brings religions together like common hatred:

Christian, Jewish and Muslim clerics unite to fight Jerusalem gay festival. Note, this story is from last year. I saw the headline for a recent story in Ha'aretz about Christian, Jewish and Muslim clerics joining forces to denounce homosexuality and to try to stop the event this year but I just can't find it at the moment.

PB

[xchrom]

1. oh yeah -- this fight for equal right is going be ugly.

this is on going -- and none of these folk are going to change.

[Scurrilous]

2. Synagogue vandalized as gay parade controversy picks up steam

Tel Aviv police pursue unidentified persons who smashed windows of Geulat Yisrael synagogue in Tel Aviv. Left behind graffiti warning: 'If we don't march in J'lem – you won't walk in Tel Aviv'. High Court to deliberate issue again

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3322809,00.html

<snip>

"The formidable snowball effect of the pride parade controversy reached the normally sedate Tel Aviv Sheinkin area early Thursday morning. An unidentified group of people smashed in the window panes of the Geulat Yisrael synagogue and sprayed graffiti on the wall warning the temple-goers that "If we don't march in Jerusalem – you won't walk in Tel Aviv."

Reports of anonymous persons hurling rocks at the synagogue starting coming in at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, police from the Yarkon district arrived at the scene and have opened an investigation into the incident. Searches are being conducted in the area for the vandals, who left behind considerable damage but no casualties.

Sheinkin street, renowned for its urban chic clothing boutiques and stylish cafés, is home to members of both the ultra-orthodox and gay communities. The issue is being treated with the utmost severity by Tel Aviv's police who fear a possible retaliation from the haredim. Security has been upped to the maximum in the final week before the Jerusalem parade next week."

[Poll_Blind]

3. Uh, can someone coach me on how this relates to I/P?

  I'm sure all of us here would love to discuss it in that light- if only someone can clue me in?

PB

[pelsar]

5. it doesnt relate to the I/P directly....

some posters love showing israeli democracy in action ...at least the side that shows how democracies react to its own extremists or law breaking politicians.

now it is true that the particular poster only posts those that relate to israel but since this is the I/P forum I guess the idea is to compare: (not much on discussion so i'm only guessing here)


so what do we have on the Palestinian side in terms of gays?

not much just hanging them....or otherwise terrorizing them....

religious tolerance?
burning down the YMCA

political scandles?..nothing, either the Palestinians have model politicians (who do get shot at occasionally) or their press is nt very active....guess their journalists prefer to live as opposed to being "aggressive journalists."

but I'm sure its israels fault....somehow, just as it was when the UN reported that Palestinian wife beating was israels fault.

[eyl]

10. There isn't a country forum for Israel

so news on the subject often ends down here by default.

[Scurrilous]

4. Police to recommend parade cancelled

While hundreds of anti-pride protestors burn trash cans in J'lem, Open House voices disappointment with reports that police intend to ask High Court to cancel pride parade, offer enclosed event instead

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3323275,00.html

<snip>

"Representatives from the Jerusalem Open House addressed reports that the police intend to petition the High Court of Justice to cancel the pride parade in its current venue and offer an alternative event that would be easier to secure.

"The pride parade is a parade of civil rights and freedom of expression," the Open House said on Friday, "it's inconceivable that violence and threats of violence will deprive individuals in Jerusalem of their rightful freedom of speech."

More and more reports of violent incidents pile up as the days lead up to the parade, due to take place in exactly one week. Friday afternoon brought the report of a harassing call placed to the home of Jerusalem council member Saar Netanel (Meretz) by an unknown man who called the councilmember a "pervert".

Netanel is a well known gay rights activist. The incident was reported to the police, as Netanel told Ynet. He also said that "Freedom of expression and democracy must not bow down to threats and incitement." Natanel expressed his hopes that police will know how to handle the issue.

Some 200 haredim took to Hashabat Square in Jerusalem on Friday, setting trash cans on fire and closing off the square to traffic. Police forces have been called to the scene."

[Scurrilous]

6. Anti-pride parade activities escalate Saturday

Haredim block roads, throw stones, light fires in protest of parade. J'lem police chief to come to final decision Sunday whether to authorize parade. Head of Haredi court of justice: Don't protest Saturday, wait until Sunday

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3323558,00.html

<snip>

"Protests escalated Saturday, less than a day before Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco said he would make a final decision regarding authorization of the gay pride parade. In the evening, dozens of Haredi protestors blocked the streets near the Ben Gurion Airport.

Concurrently, dozens of Haredim set trash cans ablaze and threw stones. Even before the end of the Sabbath, Haredi youths attempted to build blockades on several Jerusalem streets. Police were forced to close one road in the city after Haredim dispersed spikes on sections of it.

In a startling announcement broadcast in Haredi neighborhoods in Jerusalem, the head of the Haredi court of justice Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss called on residents not to protest Saturday evening against the parade, but rather wait for police's upcoming decision.

Anti-parade protests have increased in frequency and intensity in recent weeks. In the past week, protests were held on several consecutive days, with thousands of Orthodox demonstrating and rioting against the march."

[Tom Joad]

7. There is no Pride in Occupation....

http://www.thegully.com/essays/israel/020220_gays_meet_sharon.html

This is dated, and i am not sure the scheduled meeting ever took place, but i think the thoughts here are as relevant as ever...maybe more so...

Gay Israel: No Pride In Occupation

by Hagai El-Ad

Hagai El-Ad, another queer Israeli activist, is more ambivalent.

JERUSALEM, FEB. 21, 2002. It appears that a meeting of gays and lesbians with Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, will finally take place. Is this an achievement for our community, or an example of a lack of feeling, callousness and loss of direction? Is it a victory for the community or a self-inflicted defeat? What do we, Israeli gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, have to say in such a meeting? What do we gain from sitting down with the head of the Executive Branch? What do we lose? And how do we continue to fight for our human rights the morning after?

It would be worth having such a meeting if the community's representatives tell Arik (Sharon) about Dirty Laundry, a new lgbt group fighting for equality for Israel's Palestinian citizens and against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

....

The struggle for our rights is worthless if it's indifferent to what's happening to people a kilometer from here.

We're fighting for equality, but if we do it at the price of collaborating with an oppressive and discriminatory establishment, then we're no better than the millions of other Israelis who've already chosen to become hardened and indifferent to the suffering of the other, of the enemy, even if the other is an Israeli citizen, even if she is a pregnant woman, even if it's a child on her way to school. It's sufficient for the other to be an Arab to justify, in the eyes of the Jewish majority, almost any humiliation and violence.

How can a human being, especially if they're gay or lesbian, remain silent in the face of such a reality? In so many places, at so many times, it's been enough for the other to be gay or lesbian, or transsexual, in order to justify humiliation and violence. Racism is racism is racism. Indifference to suffering and humiliation of another person because he's "different" is a racist act. And now gays and lesbians will express through this meeting our indifference to this racism, our readiness to remain silent and collaborate with the Prime Minister of a country that oppresses, discriminates, and humiliates.

[Scurrilous]

8. AG tells police to allow J'lem gay pride parade

<snip>

"Attorney General Menachem Mazuz instructed Jerusalem police Sunday to approve the gay pride parade in Jerusalem, scheduled for Friday.

Nonetheless, Mazuz authorized police to formulate an alternate route along with the parade's organizers, the Jerusalem Open House, in order to allow police to provide adequate security for the parade.

The gay rights group announced recently it would be willing to consider an alternate route, or hold the Jerusalem parade in a more modest format.

Police informed the Jerualem Open House of the decision to authorize the parade."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/783729.html

[Scurrilous]

9. Haredim attack J’lem mayor

Crowd protesting upcoming gay parade hurls stones during Lupolianski's visit to event hall in ultra-Orthodox Me’a Shearim neighborhood; police officers rescue mayor, his deputy from building unharmed

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3325227,00.html

<snip>

"Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski was pelted with stones Tuesday evening during his visit to the ultra-Orthodox Me’a Shearim neighborhood in the city.

Haredim hurled rocks at a function hall in Mea Shearim while Lupolianski and his deputy were inside in protest of the plans to hold the Gay Pride Parade in the city on Friday.

Police forces arrived and rescued the two from the building. Nobody was injured."