NEWS
Great Protest

We have heard the news and the earth trembles and shakes from the voice of masses of reshoim who seek to defile the holy city of Jerusalem, the King's palace, with one of the worst abominations and ugliness of the nations of the world. Woe be the ears that hear such things and woe unto us in whose days this is transpiring.

The holy Torah warns against the serious repercussions, chas vesholom, therefore we are worried and fearful over the repercussions acts such as these could bring upon the entire Yishuv, Hashem yishmor.

Therefore we call on every Jew who has a reverent fear for the honor of our holy Torah and the honor of Jerusalem, the holy city, to protest against the above abomination in Ir Hakodesh in particular, and in Eretz Hakodesh in general.

And may He Who spreads his succas sholom spread His succas sholom over us and over all of His nation of Israel and over Yerushalayim.

Signed in reverent fear for the honor of the holy city of Jerusalem, may it be built and established, Cheshvan 5767

Yosef Sholom Eliashiv

Yochonon Sofer

Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg

Shmuel Auerbach

Yitzchok Sheiner

Ovadia Yosef

Shalom Cohen

Moshe Tzedakah

Anger and Dismay: Attorney General Orders Police to Allow Abominable Event to Take Place in Jerusalem

By Betzalel Kahn

The entire Jewish world was incensed when Attorney General Meni Mazuz instructed the police to allow the abominable parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem this Friday to go ahead as planned, despite protests throughout the Jewish world against an event that threatens to profane the sanctity of Jerusalem and the entire Jewish people.

Protest demonstrations have already been taking place daily in Jerusalem and other places following a letter by maranan verabonon, including Maran HaRav Eliashiv shlita, calling for staunch opposition to the offensive event (see sidebar).

During a meeting at the Attorney General's office on Sunday, top police officials issued an unequivocal recommendation to cancel the event due to concerns regarding their ability to ensure public safety, particularly in light of intelligence warnings regarding the possibility of bloodshed.

While the police insisted the opposition of the chareidi and religious public should be taken seriously the Attorney General rejected their recommendations, instructing Jerusalem District Commander Ilan Franco to meet with the parade organizers to "reach an understanding between the sides." Police officials then met with the parade organizers, but the only change made was to move the parade from the downtown area to the Government Compound (the street linking the Knesset and the Prime Minister's Office).

According to police sources the Attorney General told police officials: "A decision has to be made either to surrender to threats or to deal with them. A concerted effort is needed to find a formula that will allow security. A sweeping capitulation to threats is a threat to democracy and therefore the police's desire not to hold the event is not acceptable."

Ranking police officials are now in a state of consternation. At a meeting held by Police Chief Moshe Karadi various scenarios were discussed, along with a survey of the most ominous intelligence warnings.

The Attorney General's decision brought shock and dismay among Jews throughout Eretz Yisroel and the world. Many expressed concerns the situation could heat up in Jerusalem in response to the event by a fringe group trying to impose on the city an offensive event in stark contradiction to the beliefs of millions of Jews. According to one survey, 90% of Jerusalem residents are opposed to the parade.

"The public must realize we are in the midst of a real confrontation in terms of the Jewish way of life versus Israeli democracy," said MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz. "Israeli democracy's lack of consideration for the chareidi minority is worse than in other world democracies.

"Attempts have been made in the Knesset to pass the Freedom of Expression Foundation Law. We opposed this so that fringe groups would not come and claim they be granted freedom of expression. But the High Court's Aharon Barak determined freedom of expression is defended by the Human Dignity and Freedom Foundation Law. One thing remains unclear to me: if the Human Dignity and Freedom Law is accepted, why is the dignity and freedom of the Jewish people and Jerusalem ignored and neglected? Is the dignity and freedom of fringe groups more important than the human dignity and freedom of the Jewish people?"

According to MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni never has the Attorney General approved an event involving a threat to human life. "On many occasions various segments of the public, including the chareidi sector, have asked to hold demonstrations, but the police — with the Attorney General's backing — did not grant a permit to hold the demonstration due to concerns for public safety, even distant concerns. This is not a case of freedom of expression, but rather freedom of derision. We MKs from UTJ will make every effort, through parliamentary and public channels, to prevent this. I hope in the end wisdom will prevail and permission will not be given to hold this grave and impertinent event."

Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) called on the Attorney General to reevaluate his decision, saying the matter could "snowball, get out of control and turn into a dangerous powder keg."

Following the Attorney General's decision MK Yitzhak Levy (HaIchud HaLeumi) said holding the event in Jerusalem "could lead to serious violence and harm to the fabric of life in the city. I call on Mazuz to change his mind before it's too late."

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