Thousands Rally Across Israel Following Gay Pride Stabbing Attack

“What happened in Jerusalem goes against the spirit of (the Jewish) people… In every society there are extreme, murderous elements and regrettably it is true even among us but society and the state is judged by how the mainstream and the leadership acts … we will continue to lead our country against hatred and homophobia,” Netanyahu said.

 

In Thursday’s attack at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade, the stabber lunged with his knife into a group of participants and wounded six people.

 

The suspect, who was remanded for 12 days by a Jerusalem court on Friday, recently completed a 10-year jail term after carrying out a similar attack at the same gay pride parade a decade ago, police said.

 

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in Jerusalem that “We must be much more forthright, we must be thorough and clear, starting with education through to law enforcement, in order to extinguish the flames.”

 

Former president Shimon Peres told a rally in Tel Aviv that an anti-minority climate had been allowed to fester among extreme elements of Israeli society. “It should surprise no one that when some call the gay parade a parade of animals, that a 16-year-old girl is stabbed,” Peres said.

 

Read More: Thousands Rally Across Israel Following Gay Pride Stabbing Attack – NBC News