Palestinian Flag Unfurled at Gay Pride Vigil in Jerusalem

>Source URL: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/aug/06081107.html
>
>LifeSiteNews.com
>Friday August 11, 2006
>
>Homosexuals Hold Protest in Jerusalem in Wake of Nixed Pride Parade
>
>By Peter J. Smith
>
>JerusalemJERUSALEM, August 11, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - While
>northern Israel suffers daily rocket attacks, and Israelis hide in
>bomb shelters, they can rest easy knowing that against all the odds
>Jerusalem's homosexuals still held a silent protest over the lack of
>"tolerance" for their behavior and for the gay pride parade they
>never had.
>
>According to the Jerusalem Post, about 200 gay activists gathered for
>a subdued protest vigil in Jerusalem's Liberty Bell Park on Thursday
>evening, after police agreed to allow them to demonstrate in the
>park. Initially Jerusalem authorities had cancelled even that event,
>which was to replace the cancelled pride parade, but then agreed to
>permit the event after exacting conditions from the protesters.
>
>"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. Rabbi Levin has lead the
>international fight to keep the Holy City free from the homosexual
>pride event.
>
>The police did intervene in the protest to remove a number of
>anarchists who joined the vigil, unfurled a Palestinian flag, and
>raised their anti-war placards among the other homosexual rainbow
>slogans, which read "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 homosexual synagogue.
>
>The event finished the six-day World Pride Event in Jerusalem, not
>with a bang, but with a whimper, since the current war with terrorist
>groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, prompted a police decision to bar the
>planned World Pride parade through the streets.
>
>Rabbi Levin, however, criticized police for "wimping out like French
>poodles" by reneging on their pledge to stop the protest, after the
>homosexual protesters made clear they would violate the police ban.
>
>Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby maintained police did not disperse
>the event since protesters did not take the gathering into streets,
>block traffic or use bullhorns.
>
>The international homosexual festival and World Pride parade were
>condemned by Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders in
>Jerusalem and around the world as a deliberate insult and provocation
>to millions of believers, especially since it aimed to flaunt
>homosexual behavior in the world's holiest city. All three beliefs
>traditionally believe homosexual behavior is an "abomination". A
>public opinion poll conducted last year showed that three-quarters of
>Jerusalem residents opposed holding the international homosexual event.
>
>The first World Pride event was hosted in Rome, coinciding with the
>Catholic Jubilee year of 2000.
>