Israel Matzav

Tel Aviv gays banned from Madrid gay pride march

A group of gays from Tel Aviv have been banned from the upcoming gay pride march in Madrid because Tel Aviv's city authorities have not condemned last Monday's raid on the flotilla of fools (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

A delegation of gay residents of Tel Aviv has been banned from joining a gay pride march in Madrid because authorities in the Israeli city have not condemned the recent attack on the Gaza flotilla.

"After what has happened, and as human rights campaigners, it seemed barbaric to us to have them taking part," explained Antonio Poveda, of Spain's Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals and Bisexuals. "We don't just defend out own little patch."

I wonder whether these people would be willing to invite gay Gazans to their parade despite the fact that the Gazan authorities will execute any gays they find (or would Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh argue - like Iranian President Ahmadinejad did - that there are none?). Do they realize that Israel has saved 'Palestinian' gays' lives by allowing them to live in Israel? Are they aware that gay 'Palestinians' gather in Israel because they cannot gather in the 'Palestinian territories'?

The Israelis seem to understand what's at stake.

The Tel Aviv group have reacted angrily to the decision, claiming that the Madrid activists were getting their priorities wrong by mixing the nine flotilla deaths with gay pride.

"I cannot recall anyone asking the Tel Aviv city hall to either support or condemn in this case. That is not their job. I also don't recall Madrid's gay organisations condemning any of the Palestinian terrorist attacks on cafes or buses," Eytan Schwartz, a spokesman for the city told Spain's El Mundo newspaper.

"Don't they know that Islamist fundamentalists don't just want to finish off Israel, but that they also believe homosexuals should 'cure themselves' or die?"

"It is shameful that they should join with pro-Palestinian and fundamentalist groups which are not exactly tolerant with homosexuality," he said.

It's shameful, but it's also going on all over the World. I guess anti-Semitism trumps all.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:09 PM