Police will outnumber gays at Jerusalem Pride
The Israeli capital Jerusalem is preparing for a gay Pride march this afternoon. Despite violent protest from Orthodox Jewish groups the event will go ahead.
Around 5,000 people are expected to take part, protected by 7,000 police officers.
Earlier in the week 10,000 religious Jews protested and rioted, burning tyres and attacking police cars.
Yesterday the Israeli Supreme Court ruled the parade should go ahead.
Jerusalem Pride has been denounced by conservative Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders who regard the city as holy.
“The question of ‘why in Jerusalem’ is not a question. It is the same question as letting women vote,” said Dana Olmert, daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a lesbian, in an interview with Israel’s Army radio.
In 2005, an Orthodox Jewish protester stabbed and wounded three people at Jerusalem Pride.