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Gay pride rally in Israel
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| By israelinsider staff June 6, 2007 |
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The Knesset approved Wednesday in a first reading two bills aimed at preventing the "gay pride" parade, scheduled for June 21, from taking place -- not only in Jerusalem, but also anywhere else in the country.
The bills were submitted by MK Eliahu Gabbay (National Union-NRP) and Shas MKs.
The proposed amendment to Basic Law about Jerusalem, initiated by MK Eliahu Gabbay (National Union-NRP), would enable the Jerusalem municipal council to ban parades and rallies for considerations of disturbance to public order, offending the public's sensitivities or for religious considerations. In practical terms, in a predominantly religious city dominated by religious parties and with a religious mayor, that means no parade.
Forty MKs voted for the bill and 23 opposed it.
The Shas bill is even more extensive, calling for a ban on "gay pride" parades anywhere in ISrael. The bill was approved by an even larger margin, with 41 MKs voting for it and 21 opposed.
The Prime minister's office stated that "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not think that Jerusalem is the appropriate location for holding gay-pride parades due to the special sensitive nature of the city, although he believes that such matters should not be limited by law."
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said that "It is inconceivable that small and delusional groups, through PR moves, will have a harmful affect on different cities, and those who wish to desecrate Jerusalem should be denounced in particular."
Chair of the left-wing Meretz party, Zahava Gal-On, ranted in response: "The government has revealed the extent of its ineptness by allowing the coalition members to vote freely, banning the gay parade in Jerusalem and thereby denying the gay community's freedom of expression." She added: "A double-sided sword has been turned toward the community. The Knesset is crazy, with a crazy government where the tyranny of the majority is more important than human rights," she added.
Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan agreed: "This is a disgraceful time for the Knesset. The law is anti-constitutional and we must exert efforts to ensure that the legislation procedure does not go any further."
MK Chaim Oron of Meretz added: "The Knesset is irresponsibly legislating laws that violate basic rights. The problem lies not with those who proposed the bills, who don't understand the basic rules of democracy, but with the government and members of the coalition who have joined forces to pass bills that no other democratic country would approve."
Noa Sattath of the pro-gay Open House group, which supports the parade, added: "The bill proposal is very dangerous. Looking past the pride parade this creates a precedent where Jerusalem is the only city where freedom of speech answers to the will of the mayor. I feel that we and democracy in general are being harassed and we will continue our struggle."
The bill must pass two more readings before it can become law.
At the end of May, Jerusalem Police gave conditional approval for a gay pride parade in the city, but said that the event was subject to restrictions based on the situation on the ground.
'It is within the district commander's jurisdiction to determine, according to intelligence... he may have at hand, any restrictions he sees fit [for] the event, its location, and arrangements,' Jerusalem District Chief Cmdr. Ilan Franco wrote in response to the organizers' request for a permit.
Last year's parade was cancelled following weeks of violent haredi protests, and the event was moved to an enclosed stadium in the city, where it passed uneventfully.
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