Police, Jerusalem Pride marchers clash as protesters call for hostages' release
A few notable Israeli politicians attended the march to show solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community.
Participants in the Jerusalem Pride and Tolerance March clashed with Israel Police officers on Thursday, social media reports showed.
A video of the incident, seen by The Jerusalem Post, shows people trying to break apart a protester and an officer. At the beginning of the video, a separate group of people can be seen trying to break up a separate altercation.
In the video, protesters were lying on the ground and being put in handcuffs. Several people can also be seen trying to prevent crowds from forming during the supposed arrests.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that at least one protester in the march was arrested after they assaulted a police officer.
The marchers walked from Liberty Bell Park to Independence Park and encountered some counter-protests to the march along the way. The police said in a statement that Keren Hayesod, Palomar, King George, Hillel, and Menashe Ben Israel Streets were closed due to the march, along with several connecting streets.
The Israeli media outlet reported that MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash) got into a physical confrontation with the police.
Some other notable Israeli politicians attended the pride march, namely President Isaac Herzog and Opposition leader Yair Lapid.
"We came here to remember a beautiful Israeli girl who came to do good and was murdered here ten years ago. Her only goal was to do good and spread light in the world," Herzog said, as reported by KAN.
"We need to understand a clear social consensus – there is no place for violence in any form, there is no dialogue with violence. We will not accept violence in our society. I know there is violence, and we are here to eradicate it. We demand love, respect, and equality, including for the LGBTQ+ community, which is an integral part of Israeli society, and for all groups in Israeli society who need to learn how to exchange words and spread great love."
Lapid slammed the Israeli far-right and said that they were only capable of hatred.
"[Itamar] Ben Gvir and [Bezalel] Smotrich will not tell us who to love. The ultra-Orthodox will not tell us who to love," he said. "The group of crazy people protesting against us not far from here will not tell us who to love. These people are experts in only one thing – hate. We do not ask people who specialize in hate who we should love."
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