Jerusalem gay parade ban lifted

Jerusalem’s annual gay pride parade will go ahead as scheduled this Thursday after a court lifted a ban imposed on the event.

Last week Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski placed a ban on the gay pride parade, claiming the event was provocative and would create unrest.

However, an appeal against the ban by Israeli gay and lesbian organisation The Open House last weekend was successful, with the court ordering Lupolianski to personally pay for the gay centre’s legal costs, BBC News reported.

The court also ordered Jerusalem’s city council to provide security for Thursday’s event and decorate the parade route with banners.

Lupolianski did not have the right to discriminate against a group of people because he did not agree with their views, Judge Mussia Arad said.

The court’s decision follows The Open House’s cancellation of its World Pride festival, initially scheduled for August.

The group called off the event because it would have coincided with Israel’s planned withdrawal from Gaza.