Anti-Gay Jewish Sect Carries Out More Violence
Predictions of violence issued last week by a spokesman for the extremist ultra-Orthodox Haredi sect came true in an unsurprising turn of events as Thursday's date for this year's Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem draws closer.
Shmuel Popenheim predicted last week that a protest rally Sunday would flare up into yet another riot. "There is a groundswell of intense emotions, which I think will turn violent," he said.
Police had approved a protest gathering yesterday for the Haredi and others to gather and express their opposition to the Pride march, an event to which the police also had given the green light.
But the Haredi did not confine their protest to signs and chants, according to 365Gay.com, which posted a story today on Sunday's incident. They began hurling stones at members of the police, injuring seven officers.
About 15,000 police officers were on hand at the protest, purportedly to protect the general public from the Haredi rather than the other way around. Haredi rabbis reportedly incited the crowd to violence with rhetoric warning of punishment for Jerusalem if the Pride march went forward, and declaiming on the "evil" represented by gays according to Gay.com.
"Anyone who helps the evil will be judged," declared one rabbi; other Haredi leaders predicted an escalation in subsequent violence if the Pride march goes forward if scheduled.
The attack against the police took place as the protest was winding down. Garbage was set ablaze and young Haredi threw stones, with the result that six officers were treated at the scene, while a policewoman was taken to the hospital.
police arrested twelve Haredi, possibly more.
Sunday's incident is the latest in a strong of violent actions by the ultra-orthodox sect, which has protested each night since police gave this year's Pride march the okay.
Last November, a weeklong riot by the Haredi led to the cancellation of the march, which had already been delayed from the previous June due to threats of violence. In place of a parade, Pride organizer Jerusalem Open House hosted a Pride Festival at which security was tight, but no incidents took place.
In 2005, three people were stabbed by Haredi extremist Shai Schlissel during the Pride march.
Jerusalem Open House has already stated that any attempt to delay or cancel this year's event will result in Pride organizers seeking an injunction from Israel's highest court.