Chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar have called for prayers, the recitation of Psalms, and public protests against the event. Though they specifically ruled out any manifestations of violence, left-wing MK Avshalom Vilan (Meretz) called upon Civil Service Commissioner Shmuel Hollander to begin disciplinary actions against the rabbis. He said that their proclamations remind him of "dark days in the past."
Many leading opponents explain that their opposition to the march is not against the condition of homosexuality, or against the demands for equal rights - but rather against the sexually-exhibitionist nature of the march. Previous events of this nature have featured provocative and lewd exposure of the participants and their sexual preferences, in various states of undress and with ostentatious sexual innuendoes.
Chief Rabbis' Proclamation
The proclamation reads: "Let the elderly and the young gather together in the courtyards and streets and protest bitterly at the terrible abomination that desecrates Israel's name among the nations. And of course this must be done in an appropriate manner, without violence and destruction of property."
Professors for a Strong Israel
PSI - Professors for a Strong Israel - criticized Mazuz's decision to prefer pro-democracy considerations over those of public safety in allowing the parade. The organization released this statement:
"Despite the police recommendation to cancel the parade in Jerusalem for the sake of public safety, Attorney General Meni Mazuz preferred to respect the freedom of expression of the homosexual community, declaring that democracy is more important than public safety. His judgment and his order of priorities are faulty, even puzzling. Where was Mazuz when the government ignored democracy during the ethnic cleansing of 8,000 Jews from their homes last year? Where will he be when freedom of expression and freedom of religion demand the accommodation of Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount? Will Arab threats make him bow to considerations of 'public safety'? Is the Jewish State prepared to guarantee freedom to all, except to the Jews?"
The police worked out a new route for Friday's homosexhibitionist parade with the Jerusalem Open House, the organization that is organizing the event. The march has been moved from downtown Jerusalem to the area around the government complex - a non-residential area, but one where thousands of cars pass each day. Police hoped the new route would lower opposition tempers, but the opposition organizations say they will not tolerate the gay exhibitionist event anywhere in the holy city.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Kotel (Western Wall), warned police on Monday that he fears Islamic worshipers will display their opposition to the parade by throwing rocks at Jewish worshipers at the Wall during Friday’s weekly Muslim prayer services on the Temple Mount.
NCYI
The National Council of Young Israel, a Jewish-American group that often takes part in pro-Israel causes - it will co-sponsor a ceremony this week helping underprivileged families in the north hit by the recent war - wrote to Israel's political and police leadership about the parade. The letter states:
"We write to you on behalf of hundreds of synagogues and tens of thousands of member families to once again express our outrage, concern and embarrassment of the planned gay march and parade that is scheduled to occur in the Holy City of Jerusalem, in the Holy Land of Israel. We are outraged that such an event was even scheduled. We are concerned of the possible violence that will occur to Jewish, Christian, and Moslem citizens when they will be forced to protest this abomination, and we are embarrassed that of all the countries and cities that this event is to occur, that it should be in Jerusalem, Israel. We implore you; it is not too late to cancel the event. The physical and spiritual security of our people are at stake."
Jerusalem remains the focal point of protest against the gay event: some 40 protestors were arrested Monday night, and one man was injured moderately when a rolling garbage bin hit his car. Protests have also occurred alongside Route 4 near the southern entrance to Hadera, in Ashkelon, and elsewhere. In Beit Shemesh, some 300 religious men marched peacefully against the homosexual march, while in Bnei Brak, youths destroyed garbage bins and blocked roads.
Last night (Monday) marked the sixth straight night of unruly protests, and they are expected to intensify as the date of the march nears.
Calls to take to the streets in protest have come from the Eida Hareidit Rabbinical Court, Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, the Yesha Rabbinical Forum, and the National-Religious Camp. Close to 3,500 buses have been chartered to bring protestors from around the country to Jerusalem on Friday by the Yesha Council, Shas, Chabad and other organizations. The Eida Hareidit Rabbinical Court has vowed to organize a "million-man march" against the parade.
Many leading opponents explain that their opposition to the march is not against the condition of homosexuality, or against the demands for equal rights - but rather against the sexually-exhibitionist nature of the march. Previous events of this nature have featured provocative and lewd exposure of the participants and their sexual preferences, in various states of undress and with ostentatious sexual innuendoes.
Chief Rabbis' Proclamation
The proclamation reads: "Let the elderly and the young gather together in the courtyards and streets and protest bitterly at the terrible abomination that desecrates Israel's name among the nations. And of course this must be done in an appropriate manner, without violence and destruction of property."
Professors for a Strong Israel
PSI - Professors for a Strong Israel - criticized Mazuz's decision to prefer pro-democracy considerations over those of public safety in allowing the parade. The organization released this statement:
"Despite the police recommendation to cancel the parade in Jerusalem for the sake of public safety, Attorney General Meni Mazuz preferred to respect the freedom of expression of the homosexual community, declaring that democracy is more important than public safety. His judgment and his order of priorities are faulty, even puzzling. Where was Mazuz when the government ignored democracy during the ethnic cleansing of 8,000 Jews from their homes last year? Where will he be when freedom of expression and freedom of religion demand the accommodation of Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount? Will Arab threats make him bow to considerations of 'public safety'? Is the Jewish State prepared to guarantee freedom to all, except to the Jews?"
The police worked out a new route for Friday's homosexhibitionist parade with the Jerusalem Open House, the organization that is organizing the event. The march has been moved from downtown Jerusalem to the area around the government complex - a non-residential area, but one where thousands of cars pass each day. Police hoped the new route would lower opposition tempers, but the opposition organizations say they will not tolerate the gay exhibitionist event anywhere in the holy city.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Kotel (Western Wall), warned police on Monday that he fears Islamic worshipers will display their opposition to the parade by throwing rocks at Jewish worshipers at the Wall during Friday’s weekly Muslim prayer services on the Temple Mount.
NCYI
The National Council of Young Israel, a Jewish-American group that often takes part in pro-Israel causes - it will co-sponsor a ceremony this week helping underprivileged families in the north hit by the recent war - wrote to Israel's political and police leadership about the parade. The letter states:
"We write to you on behalf of hundreds of synagogues and tens of thousands of member families to once again express our outrage, concern and embarrassment of the planned gay march and parade that is scheduled to occur in the Holy City of Jerusalem, in the Holy Land of Israel. We are outraged that such an event was even scheduled. We are concerned of the possible violence that will occur to Jewish, Christian, and Moslem citizens when they will be forced to protest this abomination, and we are embarrassed that of all the countries and cities that this event is to occur, that it should be in Jerusalem, Israel. We implore you; it is not too late to cancel the event. The physical and spiritual security of our people are at stake."
Jerusalem remains the focal point of protest against the gay event: some 40 protestors were arrested Monday night, and one man was injured moderately when a rolling garbage bin hit his car. Protests have also occurred alongside Route 4 near the southern entrance to Hadera, in Ashkelon, and elsewhere. In Beit Shemesh, some 300 religious men marched peacefully against the homosexual march, while in Bnei Brak, youths destroyed garbage bins and blocked roads.
Last night (Monday) marked the sixth straight night of unruly protests, and they are expected to intensify as the date of the march nears.
Calls to take to the streets in protest have come from the Eida Hareidit Rabbinical Court, Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, the Yesha Rabbinical Forum, and the National-Religious Camp. Close to 3,500 buses have been chartered to bring protestors from around the country to Jerusalem on Friday by the Yesha Council, Shas, Chabad and other organizations. The Eida Hareidit Rabbinical Court has vowed to organize a "million-man march" against the parade.