Israel: Jerusalem LGBT Pride Parade to draw tens of thousands August 2

Event

Approximately 30,000 people are expected to march in the annual LGBT Pride Parade in Jerusalem on Thursday, August 2. Marchers will meet in Liberty Bell Park beginning at 15:45 (local time). The parade will start at 17:30 and head to Keren Hayesod Street, King George Street, Hillel Street, Menashe Ben Israel Street, and Independence Park, ending with a concert at 20:00 in Gan Ha'atzmaut. Street closures will begin at 15:00 and traffic delays around these areas are expected.

Jerusalem authorities will deploy 2500 police officers and other security forces for the event. The annual event in the country's more religious and conservative city typically draws protests from far-right and ultra-Orthodox groups. Two counter-demonstrations will be held on Thursday; one organized by a group called Lehava near Liberty Bell Park and one at the entrance to Jerusalem. On Tuesday, July 31, Lehava's founder called LGBT community members "terrorists." Isolated incidents of violence have occurred during previous events; during the 2015 parade a man stabbed and killed a 16-year-old participant.

Context

The event comes at a time of heightened tensions among the LGBT community. On July 22, nearly 100,000 people protested a surrogacy law in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously pledged to support a clause that would allow surrogacy for gay men, but ultimately voted against it. Last year, around 22,000 people marched in the Jerusalem parade.

Advice

Individuals in Jerusalem are advised to avoid protests as a precaution, allow additional time to travel, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.