Today's New York Blade reports that some Jewish, Muslim and conservative Christian religious leaders warned that an international Gay Pride event scheduled for Aug. 6-12 in Jerusalem could trigger a worldwide Islamic uprising more intense than those that occurred after last year's publication of offensive cartoons in European newspapers. The leaders demanded cancellation of World Pride Jerusalem which was originally scheduled for last year, but was postponed because of the ongoing Israeli withdrawal from Gaza at the time. The Israeli Consular Office in New York said the Israeli government has no plans to interfere with the planned march. Israeli police and security agencies will provide the the same protection given to all public events.
Sheikh Ibrhim Sarsur, an Arab-Israeli member of the Israeli Knesset, said that if the Pride participants "dare to approach" Jerusalem's historic Temple Mount during the parade, "they will do so over our dead bodies." Event leaders say that the the Temple Mount is nowhere near the planned march route. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of an LGBT synagogue in Manhattan said that opponents of Pride Jerusalem were using religion as a "weapon" for bigotry.
