Israel's News & Views Blog
In what has turned out to be a severe test of secular rights vs religious sanctity, after more than three days of running battles with the Israeli police, the religious elements appear to have come out on the winning side. The drama began several days ago following the planned Gay Pride parade scheduled for mid-Jerusalem; an event held previously among much controversy in the country’s capital. This year’s event, as part of a larger “open house” festival to celebrate Gay Pride, was met by an outpouring of protests from the Capital’s citizens, particularly the ultra-orthodox religious community.
The violence reached such a scale that more than 12,000 police dressed in full riot gear, and with the assistance of horses and water cannon, clashed with thousands of black-clad ultra-orthodox residents who burned cars and garbage dumpsters as well as creating near havoc in Jerusalem’s center. Rabbinical leaders, while trying to restore calm, still castigated the “homos” for wanting to have such a ‘blasphemous’ event in the city that is not only the nation’s capital, but it’s most holy of cities. Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Sephardic Chief Rabbi, urged everyone to let the legal authorities do what needed to be done to deal with the crises. “I call for everyone to remain calm and let the court to decide to change the decision that had been made to allow such an event to occur” Rabbi Amar said.
The events taking place go further than a mere contest of wills between the City’s (and the Country’s) secular and religious communities. Gay Pride events have been occurring in Tel-Aviv for years now, and despite mild protests have occurred with little incident. The incidents in Jerusalem, however, delve deep into the very fabric of the nation’s legal and democratic soul. Chief Police Inspector Moshe Kardi said that the police have to enforce laws regarding freedom of speech, which in itself is holy. “But there appear to be groups who feel they can take the law into their own hands; and that the police have no alternative than to deal strongly with them”. Since the Gay Pride organization already had an official permit to hold their festival, it is obvious who those “groups” are that the police have to deal with. A number of police have already been injured in the Melee as well as considerable property damage inflicted.
Incidents such as this only indicate that some serious problems still exist concerning democracy and human rights in the State of Israel. Concerning holding such events in Jerusalem, however, it might be wise to consider not doing so as it appears that a good portion of the city’s population do not want such events to occur. There are other places more suitable, and since Jerusalem is the nation’s capital, the status-quo of its holiness should be preserved for all.
Photo: www.haaretz.com
5 Comments
Excuse me, but the Gays get to march anyway, despite
the implications.
So, who really did win?
The ex-Chareidim won. We have been handed, on a silver platter, the opportunity to spew even more vitriol against the fuckstickery of the reactionary zealots.
So the Gays won a hollow victory. They should, however,
respect the sanctity of Jerusalem as a holy city; not only
for Israel but for the entire world as well.
And that sanctity does not condone homosxuality.
Sorry, Priscilla.
I don’t understand why in a democratic land, this has not been placed on a ballot in order for the will of the people to prevail without resorting to violence? Which is a stronger word, abomination or hate? While it is written, homosexuality in an abomination; It is also written, God hates violence. In my understanding, one does not justify the other. The sense that this seems to be the case [that one does justify the other] in the minds of so many on both sides is truly disheartening. Is either side interceeding for the other? It seems both sides are swollen with too much pride. Where is the Love? I hope to see more of it from both sides in the battles to come.
And yes, Jerusalem is recognized the world over as God’s chosen city and should absolutely be set apart as such.
Post a Comment