Channels

Photo: Oz Mualem
Gaydamak: Against Mazuz
Photo: Oz Mualem
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Satat: Civil rights parade
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Photo: Uriel Herschko
Saar Netanel: Important message
Photo: Uriel Herschko

Gaydamak: Decision on gay march a disgrace

In reaction to attorney general's decision to hold pride parade in Jerusalem, Open House chairwoman says 'Mazuz defended democracy and did not capitulate to those who threaten with violence and terror.' Billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak slams Mazuz

The reactions to the attorney general's decision to allow the gay pride parade to take place in Jerusalem on Friday were as colorful as they were varied.

 

The Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, the chief organizers of the parade, praised Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision to instruct the police to come to an understanding on a "modest" gay pride parade in a location that will be agree upon by the two sides.

 

However, business mogul Arcadi Gaydamak slammed Mazuz for his support of the pride parade in Jerusalem.

 

"It is a shame and a disgrace that Mazuz supports holding the parade in the capital. This only proves that everything here is according to his rules. Holding the parade in Jerusalem opposes family values and hurts people," said Gaydamak

 

Noa Satat, chairwoman of the Jerusalem Open House, said that "Mazuz defended democracy and did not capitulate to those who threaten with violence and terror."

 

'Stop unrelenting tongue-lashing'

The statement from the Open House said that the police and the Open House will meet on Monday in order to finalize the path of the parade which will be best for security demands. The statement went on saying that "the parade is an honorable civil rights demonstration that is relevant to whoever holds Israeli democracy close to his heart."

 

Satat added that "now the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the haredi leadership and other communities who oppose the parade. We call on those leaders to regain their composure and stop the unrelenting tongue-lashing of members of the gay community in Jerusalem. At the same time, we are extending our hands to anyone who wishes to enter civilized conversation with us."

 

Jerusalem Council member Saar Netanel (Meretz) praised the decision of the attorney general and the police. According to him, "The decision takes into account freedom of speech and security concerns and passes an important message that violence, terror and incitement will not win."

 

Knesset Member Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) harshly criticized the police, who, according to her, "worked in service of the fanatic inter-faith coalition" in its attempt to block the gay pride parade in the capital.

 

According to her, "The police created an atmosphere that permitted incitement in order to prevent the parade from happening."

 

MK Yitzhak Levi (National Union-National Religious Party), leading the campaign against the pride parade, said following Attorney General's decision that "holding the parade at any price is likely to result in violence and damage to the fabric of the city."Levi called Mazuz "to read the writing on the war and to change his mind before it's too late."

 

Extreme right-wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel submitted a petition to the High Court against Mazuz's decision to allow the gay pride parade to be held in Jerusalem. The two claim that just as the High Court forbade them the freedom of expression because arguing that it disturbs the peace, the court must also forbid the gay pride parade to be held in the capital.

 

According to Ben-Gvir, "Attorney General Mazuz proved once more that he supports the enemies of Israel and various abominations and goes against anything that is holy to the Torah of Israel. It is weird that when we want to pray on the Temple Mount Mazuz doesn't voice his position about freedom of speech."

 

Efrat Weiss, Tomer Ganor, and Ilan Marciano contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.06.06, 00:29
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment