JERUSALEM PRIDE TO GO AHEAD

Israel’s Supreme Court has rejected two petitions to ban this year’s Jerusalem Gay Pride, which will go ahead this Thursday.

Although the city’s Gay Pride has been a focus of violent controversy in the past, this Monday, Justice Ayala Procaccia ruled against the briefs proposed to ban this year’s celebrations.

A petition, submitted by a group of ultra-orthodox Jewish activists last week, called the parade a “provocation that harms the delicate texture that exists in Jerusalem.”

A second petition was filed by the city of Jerusalem itself, which feared that the parade would result in civil unrest.

In his ruling, Justice Ayala Procaccia said that “a proper balance must be maintained between the desires of the gay and lesbian community to march, and the feelings of the city’s residents – it is important that such parades become a matter of routine instead of causing a commotion every year.”

In rejecting both applications to halt the parade the Justice stated he had taken into consideration the parade route, its expected duration and a statement released by parade organisers Jerusalem Open House, which said that the march would not be provocative in nature.