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| By Ynetnews November 9, 2006 |
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Ultra-Orthodox leaders decided on Thursday afternoon to accept the suggested compromise to cancel the "gay pride" parade and confine homosexuals and their supporters to a stadium in Jerusalem, not in the streets of the capital, on Friday afternoon.
The Open House for Pride and Tolerance, which initiated the parade of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and their supporters in Jerusalem, had suggested moving the parade to a closed area -- the Rose Garden opposite the Knesset or the Givat Ram Stadium.
Heads of the haredi orthodox factions asked the police to release the rioters who had been arrested during previous demonstrations, and only then were they expected to officially announce their decision.
Their decision was reached following intense deliberations between top haredi figures and Rabbi Shalom Elyashiv, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian community, and Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Ultra-Orthodox community sources told Ynet of the specific conditions set by the rabbis for holding the parade: The event will take place in a confined space, and the Open House organization will not be permitted to hold any activities outside the complex. In addition, vehicles arriving at the parade venue will not carry provocative signs.
The rabbis also demanded that the Open House organization will not ask to hold another parade or similar event this year.
Police on highest alert
The flexibility presented by the parade organizers, whose response was not received yet, came following the police's renewed evaluation of the situation, as it is now forced to also deal with disturbances and threats over the parade, as well as dozens of security warnings following the Beit Hanoun tragedy .
The IDF shelling, which killed 19 Palestinian civilians -- most of them members of one family -- united the Palestinian organizations, including Fatah, in a call to renew terror attacks.
On Thursday morning, Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi held a meeting with top police officials to evaluate the situation.
Jerusalem District Police Commander Major General Ilan Franco said Wednesday that he did not remember such preparations in the capital, and senior police officials mentioned the heavy load the police are expected to face over the weekend across the country, and mainly in Jerusalem.
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter will be presented with the issue later Thursday.
Also Thursday, the High Court of Justice is expected to make a final decision regarding the petitions filed against the pride parade.
A version of this report first appeared on Ynet.
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