Police to decide Sun. whether to allow J’lem gay pride parade
By Jonathan Lis and Yuval Yoaz
Jerusalem police will on Sunday decide whether to let the Gay Pride parade occur, in light of threats by extremist groups to attack marchers and disrupt order throughout the country.
Police sources said on Sunday that Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco is leaning toward banning the parade, but will do so only if State Prosecutor Menachem Mazuz agrees to back the decision in the High Court of Justice. Mazuz is not expected to agree.
Police say the High Court will ultimately decide whether the parade will take place, as the police’s decision will most likely be challenged in court by objectors.
Franco, Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi and other police chiefs will meet Sunday to discuss the threats against the parade.
Most are similar to those made in previous years, and include demonstrating, hurling eggs and other objects at marchers and attacking them.
Franco is due to meet Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to ask him to cancel the parade.
The leaders of the gay community petitioned the High Court against the police ban a few weeks ago. In court debates, the representatives agreed to postpone the parade, originally scheduled for September, because the police said they could not ensure the marchers’ safety during the Jewish holidays and Ramadan. The police agreed that the parade would be held in November, and the High Court approved the deal.
In order to cancel the parade now, the police need the High Court’s approval to break the agreement with the gay community.
Mazuz is not expected to approve Franco’s request. He generally supports the gay community’s right to march, despite the threats.