Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem
Gay Pride Parade in JerusalemIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The Police Spokesman's Office announced today (Wednesday) that a man has been arrested after he threatened in a letter to commit suicide due to distress over the gay pride parade which is to take place in Jerusalem tomorrow.

The man, an Israeli citizen born in 1984, had also told in his letter about "disagreements" that he's had with the father of Shira Banki, the 16-year-old who was murdered at the pride parade a year ago.

This raised red flags and the police brought the matter before a Petah Tikva Magistrate Court judge, who authorized the man's arrest. He will be kept under full house arrest in an undisclosed town in Samaria until noon on Friday, when the parade will be safely over.

These measures have been taken in order to control the threat that the man poses, mainly to himself, police said.

These developments come against the backdrop of high tensions surrounding the pride parade, due to opposition to it by large swaths of the religious population in the city, and last year's horrific incident. Heavy police presence is expected in order to prevent any disturbances.

Family members of the man who murdered Banki, Yishai Shlissel, have already been ordered out of the city for the parade.