Jerusalem – Thousands Rally Across Israel Following Gay Pride Stabbing Attack

    5

    A woman holds signs during a protest against the violence towards the gay community in Tel Aviv August 1, 2015. Thousands came to show solidarity after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man stabbed and wounded six participants, two of them seriously, in the annual Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem on Thursday, with police saying the suspect was jailed for a similar attack 10 years ago. The sign reads "hatred kills".  REUTERS/Baz Ratner   Jerusalem – Thousands of Israelis attended demonstrations across the country on Saturday, two days after an ultra-Orthodox Jew stabbed six people at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade, leaving one teenager in critical condition.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Large rallies were held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and other smaller events elsewhere throughout the country where numerous speakers warned of dire consequences for Israeli society unless authorities take firmer action to root out homophobia.

    In a pre-recorded video address intended for the demonstrators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack was aimed “at all our children.”

    “What happened in Jerusalem goes against the spirit of (the Jewish) people… In every society there are extreme, murderous elements and regrettably it is true even among us but society and the state is judged by how the mainstream and the leadership acts … we will continue to lead our country against hatred and homophobia,” Netanyahu said.

    In Thursday’s attack at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade attended by about 5,000 people, the stabber lunged with his knife into a group of participants and wounded six people. One teenager remains in critical condition at a Jerusalem hospital.

    The suspect, who was remanded for 12 days by a Jerusalem court on Friday, recently completed a 10-year jail term after carrying out a similar attack at the same gay pride parade a decade ago, police said.

    Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, spoke in Jerusalem saying: “We must be much more forthright, we must be thorough and clear, starting with education through to law enforcement, in order to extinguish the flames.”

    Former president, Shimon Peres, told the rally in Tel Aviv that an anti-minority climate had been allowed to fester among extreme elements of Israeli society.

    “It should surprise no one that when some call the gay parade a parade of animals, that a 16-year-old girl is stabbed,” Peres said.

    “Those who incite against Israel’s Arabs, should not be surprised that churches and mosques are torched and even a baby is burned in the dead of night,” he said, referring to Friday’s torching of a Palestinian home in which an 18-month-old baby was killed and other family members severely injured.

    Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz was met by a loud chorus of boos during his speech in Tel Aviv and the leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, was asked not to attend for fear of a hostile reception.‎


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    5 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Nycnyc
    Nycnyc
    8 years ago

    This is a culture war. It’s the Torah Jews against the pork eating mechallel shabbos tattoos covered secular bums. They want to turn the holy city into a rebellion against the Almighty. Make no mistake.

    8 years ago

    Maybe people just want to be able to live without being forced into Sharia law.

    SandmanNY
    SandmanNY
    8 years ago

    It’s easy to react to things we disfavor. It takes sechel to respond. The fool with the knife did enormous damage to 30 years of kiruv.