PRO-GAY RALLY HELD DISPITE TREMENDOUS OPPOSITION BY THE MAJORITY OF ISRAELIS

First I would like to say that I was very saddened that the Jerusalem Police Department felt they had no other option but to allow this so-called "PROTEST VIGIL" to take place in a public park, in Holy Jerusalem, despite numerous appeals by phone and fax, from concerned opponents of this OUTRAGE. I applaud the police for their earlier refusal to grant a permit for an open march down the streets of this Holy City, but I feel that in light of the fact that this gathering was planned dispite there not having been any permits granted, and in open disregard for both the authority of the police department, and the majority of the public's sentiments on this issue, I feel the police should have done more to prevent this unlawful assembly. I also would like to say that I feel the Jerusalem Post's article following the rally, gave far too much coverage to this so-called, protest vigil, and to the organizers of this public rally, and almost NO coverage to those who have fought so hard to prevent these events from taking place in our Beloved Jerusalem. I feel the coverage given to this gathering was certainly lop-sided, and not balanced reporting. I have posted the JPost article below for your appraisal. One part of the article that I had a particular problem with, was where they stated, and I quote,

"The event was marred when a group of anarchists joined the gathering and began waving placards against the war in Lebanon and shouting slogans against the IDF. Police forcibly prevented them from approaching the sidewalk on the edge of the park and detained a protester who unfurled a PLO flag."

This reads as though the "group of anarchists" were seperate and unconnected individuals, who just happened to join in the assembly of protestors, without their prior knowledge or approval. This is highly doubtful, to say the very least. I have seen these pro-gay sponsored events, and World Gay Pride Parades in the media for several years now, and I don't care where they are held, the United States, Rome, the E.U., Israel, or wherever, they always have one thing in common, they are ALWAYS seen carrying banners and chanting anti-Israel and pro-Arab sentiments. We should ask why it is that these two seemingly unconnected agenda's, that of promoting their pro-homosexual lifestyles, and that of being opposed to Israel, while rallying around every pro-Arab cause, are ALWAYS shared by these groups. What does one have to do with the other, and yet I challenge you to pay closer attention when the media displays these pro-gay events on the news, and see if you ever view media coverage of these events without also seeing these anti-Israel/pro-Arab banners in the crowd. You won't find any, because they're ALWAYS there with their banners and their anti-Israeli retoric.

Having said all of this, I would like to conclude with a statement that I read on Rabbi Lazer Brody's blog. I think it will encourage us all to keep fighting the RIGHTEOUS FIGHT. He wrote, on his blog, Lazer Beams, that, "the Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a explained to him how difficult the future tests of faith will be. He says on Lazer Beams, that The Rebbe shlit'a was in effect saying, "Don't be fooled when you see evil winning out; this is a difficult - but only temporary - test of faith." This is an important principle to remember, especially during these difficult times."


THE JERUSALEM POST

Aug. 10, 2006 20:12 Updated Aug. 11, 2006 0:44

Gay activists hold J'lem protest vigil

By ETGAR LEFKOVITS

The heavily guarded demonstration, which was ignored by the city's haredi community, was allowed to take place after organizers adhered to the conditions police had set for it, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.
The event was marred when a group of anarchists joined the gathering and began waving placards against the war in Lebanon and shouting slogans against the IDF. Police forcibly prevented them from approaching the sidewalk on the edge of the park and detained a protester who unfurled a PLO flag.
The low-key event, which was one-fifth the size organizers had originsally planned, came near the culmination of six-day World Pride Event in Jerusalem, which was overshadowed by the war and the police decision to bar a planned parade through the streets.
A huge red banner at the protest read "Jerusalem is for all," while rainbow-colored placards included such slogans as "The Path to God is not always straight" and "Senseless hatred."
"We believe that the holiness of Jerusalem is increased by this city being the center of tolerance and coexistence," said Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, 32, who lead a delegation from New York City's Congregation Beth Simhat Torah, the world's largest gay and lesbian synagogue.
She added that organizers understood that the tone had to be "appropriate" during wartime when "the voices of tolerance and hope are all the more essential."
Some motorists shouted at the protesters to go to Lebanon or relocate to the Gaza Strip.
"At a time when Jewish blood is being spilt in Lebanon, all that these self-indulgent narcissistic, selfish, perverted people can think about is engaging in sodomy," said New York Rabbi Yehuda Levin, of the Orthodox Rabbinical Alliance of America and the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the US and Canada, who has been spearheading an international campaign against the parade.
Levin, who was prevented by police from entering the park lest there be a violent confrontation, slammed police for "wimping out like French poodles" in not stopping the gathering.
Ben-Ruby noted that the event was not dispersed since protesters did not move out into the streets, block traffic or use bullhorns.
A parade was nixed last month, when police said they were unable to allocate sufficient forces needed to secure such a major event due to the war.
The international gay festival, which was originally scheduled to take place last year and had already been postponed until August due to last summer's Gaza pullout, has been widely criticized by Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders in Jerusalem and around the world as a deliberate affront and provocation to millions of believers.
The idea of holding an international gay parade in Jerusalem was seen by many residents as out of touch with both the spiritual character of the city and the sensitivities of its observant residents.
A public opinion poll released last year found that three-quarters of Jerusalem residents were opposed to holding the international gay event.