"Jerusalem is a unique city, it is called holy by all of the three religions. Respecting it means respecting its devotees as well". With firm but calm words, the parish priest of Jerusalem, father Ibrahim Faltas, took part in the debate about the forthcoming "Gay pride", which is due to be held in Jerusalem on November 10th. "Personally, I do not approve of this event says the Franciscan friar to SIR Jerusalem is a holy city. Christians, Jews and Muslims are united in saying no to this event. We are only asking that the religious sensitivity of so many devotees be respected". In the meantime, in the build-up to the Gay Pride event, tension is escalating in Jerusalem, where in the last few days the members of some ultra-Orthodox cults are protesting, sometimes violently attacking the police with stones and bottles. This, to prevent the police authorising the march, and putting it off again, as it had happened in the past on the occasion of the Israeli retreat from Gaza and more recently for the war with Hezbollah. Protests have come from several rabbis, and a petition against the Gay Pride has been signed by about 70 Knesset members. Contacted by SIR today, the Latin Patriarchate chose "not to make any comments or statements for the moment".
