Jerusalem Pride Parade opposes Israel’s far-right government’s opposition World news

Thousands of people on Thursday marched in Jerusalem’s Pride Parade – an annual event held for the first time under Israel’s new far-right government, which is packed with openly homophobic members.

Tourism in the conservative city is often tense and heavily policed, and has been marred by violence in the past. But this year, Israel finds itself deep in the middle of a controversial government plan to reform the justice system. The plan has drawn long-standing social divisions between those who want to preserve Israel’s liberal values ​​and those who seek to shift toward more religious extremism.

Jerusalem’s march is much more progressive than that in gay-friendly Tel Aviv, where thousands of revelers pour into the streets for a colorful celebration. But Wednesday’s parade, amid tight security, drew larger crowds than usual in a show of force against the government and its plan to reform the legal system.

“There is no struggle in Israel for democracy, and another for LGBTQ rights,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a speech to the crowd. “It is the same struggle, against the same enemies, in the name of the same values.”

Other opposition politicians and the US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, joined Wednesday’s march. “I don’t see this argument one way or the other,” Nides said. “This is about rights and human rights, and this is what brings America and Israel together.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is made up of ultranationalist and religious groups that openly oppose homosexuality, although the Israeli leader has promised to protect LGBTQ rights and a member of his party who is gay is the Knesset speaker.

The country’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has previously said that he is “proud gay.” Before entering politics, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is now in charge of the police, was caught in the Pride protests, joining the group of protesters who opposed the march. Avi Maoz, the deputy minister with authority over some educational content, has said that he wants the legalization of Jerusalem Pride to be reviewed.

Ben-Gvir said on Wednesday that there would be a “massive” police presence guarding protesters and that he supported the freedom of expression demonstrated by the parade. The Israeli police said that more than 2,000 workers were deployed in the direction of the siege.

“It will be the responsibility of the police to protect, guard and ensure that even if the minister does not agree with the parade, the safety of the pilgrims is above all else,” said Ben-Gvir.

At one point during the outing, Ben-Gvir chanted “shame” as he walked alongside for what he said was a security visit.

Hagar Ponne, of Jerusalem, called the trip a “happy event” but also said it was “against” the country’s climate.

“There are people who are very homophobic and very transphobic in government today who hold positions of power and budget and are actually working against us right now,” he said.

People carried a banner that read: “There is no pride without democracy.”

Like other years, a small group of LGBTQ-activists attended Wednesday’s parade. At a parade in 2015, an Israeli man who was a Christian coach stabbed 16-year-old Shira Banki to death and injured several others.

Israel is generally tolerant of the LGBTQ community, a rarity in the conservative Middle East, where homosexuality is considered illegal and is legal in some places. Members of the LGBTQ community serve openly in the Israeli military and parliament, and many famous actors and actresses are openly gay.

However activists say there is a long road to full equality. Modern Jewish religious groups, which have a major influence on matters of religion and government, oppose homosexuality as a violation of religious law, as do other religious groups in Israel.

The conservative foundation of the Netanyahu government caused new fears in the LGBTQ community, which had seen gains under the previous, short-term administration led by Netanyahu’s rivals. Those fears worsened when the government pressed ahead with its plan to reform the judiciary, a plan that was put on hold in March after a spate of unprovoked mass protests.

The plan would weaken parliament and limit judicial oversight over laws and government decisions, which critics say is a direct threat to civil rights and the rights of minorities and marginalized groups. .

Protests have continued even though the government and opposition are in talks to find an agreement on the plan and demonstrators are expected to show up in Jerusalem to show their support for the region.

The government says the judicial plan is meant to rein in what it says is an over-interventionist high court and restore power to elected lawmakers. Critics say it would give the government unlimited power and increase the country’s system of checks and balances.