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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Israel Police Commissioner meets LGBTQ+ leaders, vows safe Pride Month

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israel's Police Commissioner met with LGBTQ+ community representatives to ensure safety during Pride Month events.
  • The police committed to protecting participants' right to celebrate freely and will take all necessary measures against violence and hatred.
  • Pride Month celebrations include the Tel Aviv Pride Parade on June 12 and the Pride Land festival at the Dead Sea, though Rome Pride organizers excluded a Jewish LGBTQ+ group over its stance on Gaza.

Police Commissioner Danny Levy reaffirmed the Israel Police's commitment to ensuring the safety of Pride Month events throughout June. Meeting with representatives of the LGBTQ+ community on Sunday, Levy emphasized the police's dedication to protecting participants' right to celebrate and gather freely.

We will do everything necessary so that everyone who takes part in the events can celebrate in complete safety, without fear and without interference. We will not allow manifestations of violence, incitement, hatred, or harm of any kind.

— Danny LevyPolice Commissioner Danny Levy's statement on ensuring safety during Pride Month events.

"We will do everything necessary so that everyone who takes part in the events can celebrate in complete safety, without fear and without interference," Levy stated in a Telegram message. "We will not allow manifestations of violence, incitement, hatred, or harm of any kind." He added that the Israel Police views the protection of freedom of expression as a core responsibility and has increased the number of officers liaising with the LGBTQ+ community.

Yael Sinai Biblash, CEO of The Aguda - The Association for LGBTQ+ Equality in Israel, welcomed the meeting, noting the seriousness with which the Police Commissioner approaches the issue. June 1 marks the start of month-long Pride celebrations, with the Tel Aviv Pride Parade scheduled for June 12. The parade returns to its traditional route and format after being canceled in 2025. Festivities begin at the Dead Sea with the Pride Land festival, billed as the largest LGBTQ+ festival in the Middle East.

Within two years, we are meeting you for the third time, and this tells us how seriously you, as Police Commissioner, take the issue of the LGBTQ+ community.

— Yael Sinai BiblashCEO of The Aguda - The Association for LGBTQ+ Equality in Israel, welcoming the meeting with the Police Commissioner.

However, the celebrations occur amid growing international tensions over Israel's actions in Gaza. Organizers of the Rome Pride parade excluded the Jewish LGBTQ+ organization Keshet Italia for declining to characterize Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. Against this backdrop, organizers and community leaders state this year's events will serve as both a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and a demonstration of resilience.

This is not just another festival, it's the biggest thing we've done here.

— Aaron CohenFestival founder and lead producer Aaron Cohen on the Pride Land festival.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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