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Pride in Jerusalem: "It's the same fight, against the same enemies, in the name of the same values"

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MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

Thousands of people took part in the Pride parade in Jerusalem on Thursday. They waved rainbow flags and demanded equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people on signs.

The organizers estimated the number of participants at around 30,000. According to the police, who always closely guard the annual march in the conservative city, more than 2000,<> officers were deployed.

This year's parade for the rights of sexual and gender minorities was not only the first under the new right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was also marked by the planned judicial reform, which is intended to curtail the influence of the Supreme Court and expand the government's position of power. According to the plans, parliament will be able to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court by a simple majority in the future. In addition, the government is to have control over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court.

The opponents of these plans see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a national crisis. Week after week, hundreds of thousands are protesting across the country.

Thursday's parade also attracted more people than usual. "There is not one fight for democracy and another for LGBTQ+ rights in Israel," opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a speech to the crowd. "It's the same fight, against the same enemies, in the name of the same values."

The organizers had expressed strong security concerns before the start of the event. They feared that the new government could increase the danger for the participants. They cited the fact that Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir himself had participated in protests by religious extremists against the Pride parade in the past. Ahead of this year's Pride, Ben-Gvir assured that even if he was not thrilled with the existence of the parade, he would make sure that "not a hair is bent" of the participants.

The politician is part of the most right-wing government in Israel's history. It consists of ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties that oppose changes to the law in favor of non-heterosexual people as a violation of Jewish religious commandments, despite Netanyahu's announcement that he would protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Several ministers are openly homophobic. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for example, has declared in the past that he is a "proud homophobe."

Next week, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Pride in Tel Aviv. The liberal coastal city is considered a stronghold of the scene in the Middle East.

SAK/DPA