Terrorist Act Targets Jerusalem Pride March
An early morning explosion outside Jerusalem April 20 has been linked to the discovery of leaflets condemning this year's gay pride march in the holy city.
The detonation occurred in the vineyard of Beit Jamal monastery when a tractor drove over a pipe bomb device, resulting in minor injuries to the driver. Police are eyeing Ultra-Orthodox organizations, such as the ones that have threatened past marches, in the incident. As yet, it is not clear why the bomb was placed in the vineyard, but anti-pride march leaflets were discovered nearby. Police suspect that Ultra Orthodox Jews from Ramat Beit Shemesh, located near the monastery, may be involved.
Jerusalem Open House, the city's gay community center, last month filed with Jerusalem police a request for permission to conduct the march, which is currently scheduled for June. Last year's World Pride march was delayed for several months because of threats of violence from Ultra Orthodox Jews, but eventually did go forward. The leaflets, discovered by Israeli security forces investigating the explosion, condemned last year's World Pride event and warned against future marches.
"Jerusalem Open House could not more strongly condemn this act of violence and hatred directed at us," Noa Sattah, executive director of Jerusalem Open House, said in a statement. "This violent act is just one example of the religious bigotry, prejudice and violence lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the world are confronted with every day."
Wishing the detonation's victim a swift and complete recovery, Sattah went on to declare, "Morally bankrupt religious bigotry will never deter us from our struggle for freedom of expression and full and equal civil and religious rights. We urge the Jerusalem police to find the perpetrators of this despicable action and bring them to justice."