Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Jerusalem Pride Parade "will continue to march" in an apparent response to recent concerns over LGBTQ+ rights under his government that includes far-Right elements.
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"My government won't harm the queer community or the rights of any Israeli citizen," Netanyahu tweeted. "We will care for all Israeli citizens with mutual solidarity and work to improve our lives. This is our mission."
Last week, Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement with Avi Maoz – the single member of the fringe, anti-gay Noam party – in the latest development in ongoing efforts to form the next government.
Maoz is known for his staunch anti-LGBTQ+ positions and has threatened to reverse the previous government's reforms that benefited the community. He has also said his party would "study the legal possibilities of canceling the Jerusalem Pride Parade" and called the annual event "a promiscuous parade of abomination."
Earlier this month, Netanyahu reassured that there would be no harm to the "status quo" of Israel's LGBTQ+ community, but the inclusion of Maoz in the incoming government and his targeting of the gay community have sparked outrage among the Israeli public, particularly from the queer community.
About 7,000 people march every year during the Jerusalem Pride Parade. The religious extremist group Lehava – allied with Otmza Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, also a part of the incoming government – organizes counter-demonstrations every time.
Two stabbings have already occurred during these protests, both perpetrated by Yishai Shlissel in 2005 and 2015. During one of these attacks, Shira Banki, a 16-year-old girl marching with her family, was killed.
On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Yair Lapid sent a letter to Israeli mayors urging them to boycott Maoz due to his extremist views.
"I am writing to you with great concern for the future of the education system and the state, since the new government established in Israel has abandoned the education of our children and handed them over to the most extreme and dark elements in Israeli society," he wrote in the letter. "As you know, this [Noam] is an extremist, racist, homophobic and dangerous party. I urge you not to cooperate with it for external programs and partnerships in Education Ministry as long as it is controlled by Maoz. The heavy responsibility for the educational content that our children will learn in schools – is now shifting to you. In order to maintain the state and liberal education system, as it has been until now, and to exercise the right of the local government to shape education in its field, you must now act as gatekeepers."
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