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Israel on high alert
10/11/2006 20:45 - (SA)
Marius Schattner
Jerusalem - Israel went on a heightened state of alert on Friday amid fears of Palestinian suicide bombings following a lethal shelling in the Gaza Strip and as homosexuals staged a controversial rally in Jerusalem.
Security forces have been braced for possible attacks after Palestinian groups that had observed a near two-year truce in attacks inside Israel called for a resumption of suicide bombings to avenge the deaths of 18 Palestinians.
"Altogether, 7 000 policemen are on patrol in Jerusalem maintaining security measures," said police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld ahead of the homosexual rally, which passed off without violent incident.
Around 4 000 officers were concentrated in such locations as Jerusalem's Old City and flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, where the main Muslim weekly prayers take place.
General closure on West Bank
Another 3 000 policemen were drafted in to secure the homosexual rally in a Hebrew University stadium as a police surveillance balloon hovered over the site of the scaled-down event and helicopters patrolled Jerusalem's skies.
In addition, a general closure was slapped on the West Bank amid fears of Palestinian attacks. An army spokesperson said that would remain in place until late Saturday - the end of the Jewish Sabbath which begins at sundown Friday.
One security source said that following the Gaza deaths on Wednesday, "no less than 80 warnings of imminent Palestinian attacks against Israeli targets have reached the intelligence services".
Security forces also went on high alert nationwide to prevent possible protests against the gay event, which has already been the cause of near daily clashes between police and members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.
Nevertheless only around 4 000 people, homosexuals, left-wing and liberal activists turned out for the rally, significantly less than original police estimates of up to 7 000 people.
Banners proclaiming "a free and proud Jerusalem" and placards such as "there are different ways to be a Jew" were held aloft as police arrested five people at a park outside the stadium for trying to confront gays and lesbians.
Several far-right activists had clashed briefly with gay-rights activists who tried to organise an unauthorised march not far from the stadium.
Watered down and already twice postponed, the rally has been slammed by Christian, Jewish and Muslim faithful as an abomination to the sanctity of Jerusalem, and it has sparked threats of violence from hardliners.
The Vatican also called for the planned march to be cancelled for fear of offending "the sensibilities of religious communities" in Jerusalem.
- AFP
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