Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco confirmed on Thursday that the gay pride parade would kick off at 5 pm in Jerusalem as planned.
Franco said however that a party planned in one of the city's parks would be canceled. Police told the High Court that the party would have to be secured by the Jerusalem Municipality.
Police forces detained Thursday afternoon a resident of the Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem for carrying a makeshift bomb on Jaffa Street.
The suspect said he planned to deter people from taking part in the gay pride parade. The bomb included a pipe and matches. Police said it could have caused bodily harm if detonated.
Earlier on Thursday right-wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Yaakov Sternberg filed a petition with the High Court of Justice demanding that the gay pride parade in Jerusalem be canceled due to the slow-down strike by firefighters.
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| 7,000 police officers to secure gay parade / Efrat Weiss |
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Police will also oversee Orthodox protest against parade; attorney demands cancellation of march due to firefighters’ slow-down strike |
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The Open House organization for gays and lesbians said that private firefighters and fire engines would be hired in case of emergency, while police officials told the High Court they could use water hoses instead of fire engines.
At around 2 pm a panel of High Court judges is set to discuss the police’s position on the matter and then decide whether to allow the parade.
Knesset Member Uri Ariel of the National Union-NRP party also called on Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter to forbid the parade because of the firefighters’ strike.
Jerusalem City Council member Saar Netanel, a prominent gay community leader, said if the parade was called off it would be held “as soon as possible”.
“I’m certain that the Israel Police will find a solution to the firefighters’ strike. It is in the police’s interest that the parade be held today as scheduled,” he said.
“The firefighters issue will not prevent the pride and tolerance parade from taking place.”
Aviram Zino contributed to the report
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