More on Efforts to Block Jerusalem World Pride 2005

"Meanwhile, the local organizers of the event found an ally in Israel's Masorti (Conservative) Movement, which have thrown their weight behind the controversial Jerusalem parade.

"In the past we have supported the right to hold a local gay pride parade in Jerusalem, and today, we continue to support their rights to hold such an event in Jerusalem even on an international stage as a symbol of the city's tolerance and pluralism," said Rabbi Ehud Bandel, the head of the movement.

Bandel added that he viewed nothing inappropriate about the event except for the campaign against it.

He noted that in the past the movement had considered to take part in such parades but did not due to concerns over "provocations" as well as the "sexual nature" of such an event, which, he said, was "out of sync" with a religious movement."