Thousands march through Jerusalem to celebrate first Pride parade in two years
The parade, the first since coronavirus restrictions were lifted, took place in one of Israel's more conservative cities
Around 8,000 people marched, sang and danced through the streets of Jerusalem on Thursday to mark the city’s first Pride parade since coronavirus restrictions were eased.
Participants held flags, balloons and banners as they celebrated in a city that has seen hostility against the LGBT community in recent years.
There were heavy precautions with 3,000 police officers and other security measures in place ahead of this year’s event, which marked its 20th anniversary this year.
The 2015 parade saw one 16-year-old participant, Shria Banki, stabbed to death by a strictly-Orthodox man.
“I think this is very meaningful because Israel has experienced three really major hate crimes against the LGBT community, two of them here in the gay parade,” said Maya Benbebnishcy, one of the participants.
“So I think this is really significant for all of us, people who came here to support and show solidarity, people who came here because they are part of the community.”
Another participant, Nissim Nakhoum, added: “I think it’s important to be here. This is the capital and we should show people that we are here, that we are present.
“And I think it is very important that we can teach that if there is someone that is afraid to get out of the closet like I was, it is okay, you can be yourself.”
Despite reports of a planned far-right counter demonstration, no major incidents were reported during the parade.
Police said two 17-year-olds were detained after hanging placards with an anti-parade message, while another Jerusalem resident were arrested the day before on suspicion of threatening to kill participants.
The event, held in Jerusalem since 2001, has long been a source of tension between Israel’s predominantly secular majority and the strictly-Orthodox minority who object to public displays of homosexuality.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
