Protests against gay parade prove costly

Jerusalem municipality says haredi protests against gay pride parade in city cost NIS 428,000
Efrat Weiss

Property damages caused by Orthodox Jews' protests at the gay pride parade in the capital last week cost an estimated NIS428,000 ($100,000), the Jerusalem Municipality said Tuesday.

"The (Jerusalem) municipality needs to withhold the high cost of damages caused by Haredi protests from budgets allocated to the haredi community in the city," said Saar Netanel, a member of the City Council.

Last week haredi protesters burned garbage bins, broke lamp poles, road signs and traffic lights as they rioted in protest at the gay pride parade in the city.

Thousands attended the parade after the High Court rejected a petition asking the parade be cancelled.

"It is impossible that tax payers in Jerusalem bare the brunt of the illegal protests carried out by the haredim. It is obviously legal to protest against the gay pride parade, but damaging municipal property is violent and illegal," added Netanel.