Concerned by the possibility of public unrest, the police
might order the cancellation a disturbing, divisive parade
that would undermine the sanctity of the holy city of
Jerusalem. Police officials say they lack the manpower needed
to provide proper policing for such an event due to current
security situation in the country. Unconfirmed reports are
that the event will be moved to Tel Aviv.
The Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations of Britain sent a
letter expressing their "horror and indignation" at the
proposed event in the Holy City of Jerusalem. They asked the
Israeli government to uphold "the time-honored concept of
kedushas Am Yisroel and kedushas Eretz
Yisroel.
HaRav Yosef Efrati, representing Maran HaRav Eliashiv
shlita, and MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni recently met with
Jerusalem District Police Chief Ilan Franco, clearly
informing him that the planned event would strike a serious
blow to the sensibilities of Torah-true Jewry and the
sanctity of Jerusalem. Franco promised to assess canceling
the parade.
MK Rabbi Gafni also met with Police Chief Moshe Karadi,
saying that the event could cause major public disturbances
that the police would be hard-pressed to cope with.
Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky met with the Vatican's
ambassador to Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco, as part of
his efforts to prevent the event from being held in
Jerusalem. The Mayor stressed the conducting discussions of
the issue on an international level rather than a local
level. The Archbishop told Rabbi Lupoliansky that the Vatican
was very troubled by the prospect of holding the parade in
Jerusalem and that the heads of the Catholic Church in
Jerusalem have been instructed to use every means at their
disposal to bring about its cancellation.
Following the meeting, the Ambassador issued a statement
saying, "Holding the event in Jerusalem is an attempt to
impose views of a provocative minority on the majority, which
cannot be allowed. The Vatican will act using all means at
its disposal to stop the plans to harm the character of the
Holy City."
The meeting with the Ambassador was part of a series of
conversations the Mayor has held over the past several weeks
with Christian and Muslim leaders in the city in order to
apply international pressure to stop the event planned for
next month.
The Knesset Internal Affairs Committee also met to discuss
the parade and chareidi representatives in the Knesset and
the Jerusalem City Council lodged harsh attacks against the
offensive event. Rabbonim from all circles and backgrounds
have been making concerted efforts to thwart the event,
including meetings with influential figures in a position to
persuade government officials and the police to cancel it.
