The Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem began: Ahead of the start of the Pride and Tolerance Parade that began today (Thursday) in Jerusalem, more than 2,000 Jerusalem District police officers and Border Police fighters were deployed, both overt and covert. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir assessed the police's situation: "We are committed and I want the hair from the heads of those marchers not to be harmed. The police are fully prepared." Some of the participants in the march shouted slogans against Ben-Gvir.
Marching in Jerusalem: minute by minute
17:05 P.M.: MK Merav Michaeli on the stage at the Bell Park: "Thank you to the Israel Police for making sure this parade is safe. We are fighting for a world even without police to protect us. This government has taken us back to dark places. Every person is born and born in the image of God. Great pride and we are going to win. Happy holiday."
16:55 P.M.: MK Benny Gantz noted at the opening stage of the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem's Bell Park: "I am very happy to be here. This message and march is very important. We won't have to march when we don't need security and overt and covert police. We won't have to walk when gay isn't a curse. We will not have to march when everyone can marry in their own way and have children through orderly legislation. When it becomes obvious we will not have to march. We will not have to march when there are no racists sitting in the government. We won't have to march when we're not afraid to walk. The main thing is to love who you want. Be proud of who you are and what you are."
MK Gantz at the parade, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
16:50 P.M.: Chants by dozens of demonstrators at a march against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
16:20 National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the police command post near the Leonardo Hotel on King George Street. Ben-Gvir said in assessing the situation: "It is clear to you that in my role as Minister of National Security I am doing and will do everything so that there will not be a crazy incident, as was the case in the murder of the girl who shot Banki. We are committed and I want the hair from the heads of those marchers not to be harmed. The police are fully prepared."
"At the same time," the minister claimed, "my policy is to give freedom of expression even to those who oppose the march. It's their right as long as they don't break the law, and I told the police that I don't want to see pictures of ultra-Orthodox or religious people walking around the streets of Jerusalem and excluding them from the streets because they're religious, because they wear a kippah or because they wear skirts."
Minister Ben-Gvir on his way to the command center, photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash 90
Changes in traffic arrangements in the capital
In the last few minutes, the streets of the march were closed to traffic: Keren Hayesod, Palomar, King George, Hillel, Menashe Ben Israel. In addition, the streets leading to them will be closed to traffic, including: Agron, Elhanan, Shalom Aleichem, Mapu, Ahad Ha'am, Gaza (from Arlozorov to Paris Square), Shmuel Hanagid, Avida, the JNF, the Histadrut, King David from Palomar Junction (will remain open from the customs junction to neighborhood residents and from there left to Kariv), David Marcus, Jabotinsky to King David, Yitzhak Kariv, David Remez, Emil Butte and Eliyahu Shema.
Participants arrive at the parade, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Entry to the parade route will be possible only through the gathering area in Liberty Bell Park, Paris Square, King David Street (near Plumer Square) and Histadrut/Shamai Street – where police officers and security guards will conduct security checks as needed at the entrances.
Jerusalem District police officers operate throughout the city. Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Office,
The rabbi who came especially
Rabbi Mike Moskowitz came especially to the gay pride parade from New York, USA, to express his support for the gay community: "It is important to recognize the gay community and create a bridge between the community and the ultra-Orthodox sector," Rabbi Moskowitz told Israel Hayom. "This is the reality of the world. It was important for me to come here especially for the gay pride parade. I am married with children, but you have to respect the LGBT community and find points of connection. They are all children of God."
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