Police permit pride parade in Jerusalem
Jerusalem's Open House center pleased after receiving district police commander's letter saying police forces committed to providing safe environment for parade
The Jerusalem Open House received a letter from Israeli police Thursday, giving the community center preliminary permission to hold the annual gay pride parade in Jerusalem, this June.
The parade's organizers submitted their request for the permits needed to hold the parade last March, but the controversial parade was fiercely apposed by the city's Orthodox residents.
"Let there be no doubt – the police department is fully obligated by High Court ruling 7348/06", said Jerusalem District Police Commander, Major-General Ilan Franco in the letter sent to the Open House.
The High Court ruling specified the district police must provide the permits and security necessary for the gay pride parade.
"This said", the letter continued, "it is within the district commander's jurisdiction to determine, according to the intelligence information and/or evidence he may have at hand, on any restrictions he sees fit to apply to the event, it's location, and arrangements."
"The organization awaits the official authorization from Jerusalem police," Noa Satat, CEO of the Jerusalem Open House said Thursday. "This letter proves that both parties have learned their lesson from last year's events, realizing that obeying the law is in everyone's best interest," she added.
