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
In a separate incident, dozens of young Haredim tried to block another Jerusalem street. Police forces prevented them from blocking the street and dispersed them.
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.
Also Saturday, a fake explosive was found in Jerusalem , containing a note condemning the imminent parade in the city.
A police sapper called to the area examined the device, found in an abandoned bag, and realized that it was not a real explosive. Police have opened an investigation.
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 the 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.
Franco attacked
On Friday posters were hung in a number of synagogues around the capital with harsh invectives aimed at Franco. One slogan charged that he was the grandson of notorious SS officer in Treblinka Franz Stangl. Police said they viewed the offenses with severity and opened an investigation into the matter.
Friday afternoon brought the report of a harassing call placed to the home of Jerusalem council member Saar Netanel (Meretz), a well-known gay rights activist, by an unknown man who called the councilmember a "pervert".
Earlier Friday afternoon some 200 haredim demonstrated at Shabbat Square and lit garbage cans on fire. The square was closed to traffic.
An alarming amount of intelligence information has been gathered by the Jerusalem police regarding the intention of ultra orthodox extremists to violently assault participants in the parade.
A senior source in the Jerusalem police spoke with Ynet and divulged that if the situation remains as it is, the police will recommend the parade, in its current venue, be cancelled and moved to an enclosed space. One of the alternatives already suggested is the Jerusalem International Convention Center.
