No Gay Day in Jerusalem

Jews Set Fire, Stab, Rage to Stop Gay Parade -- that's a headline I don't see everyday.

Israel's attorney general refused to ban a gay pride parade in Jerusalem despite threats of violence from ultra-Orthodox Jews, instructing police and gay activists to try to work out a compromise, the police commander said Sunday. A Justice Ministry statement said Attorney General Meni Mazuz ordered police to meet with gay activists "to work out a reasonable alternative proposal" for the march, set for Friday on a route through the middle of the city. The meeting is to take place Monday, gay activists said, and a compromise was likely.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have rioted in Jerusalem nearly every night over the past week, burning garbage cans, blocking roads and assaulting police officers in an attempt to get the authorities to call off the march, approved months ago by the Supreme Court. Many religious Jews, Muslims and Christians see homosexuality as a sin and the march as an affront to the sanctity of the holy city. Police said Sunday that the danger of violence was too great to allow the march to proceed, but left the final decision to Mazuz. "We understand that the potential danger to life and bloodshed is greater than that to free speech," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Ella Canetti, one of the organizers of the gay pride march, said they would meet police on Monday and were willing to be flexible. "We are prepared to alter the route of our march to meet police concerns," she told The Associated Press. "According to what we understand, a modest gay pride march will take place in Jerusalem." After meeting Mazuz, Jerusalem police commander Ilan Franco said, "It may be that there will be a march and a closing event at place which both sides decide is reasonable and minimizes potential damage and danger." But it was unclear whether such a compromise would satisfy the ultra-Orthodox Jewish opponents.

So all you gays...how does it feel to be persecuted by a bunch of Jews? Look, they wore their Saturday best -- potato sacks over their amish outfits.

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