Pride in Tel Aviv

Thousands of people attended the tenth annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv Friday, to celebrate the gay community's struggle for equality and to christen the center for the gay community situated in the city's Meir park (Gan Meir).

"The center symbolizes an amazing turning point in the history of the gay community, and our activities will now have fertile ground from which to grow and flourish," Army Radio quoted one of the parade participants as saying.

The Tel Aviv municipality donated NIS 250,000 for the event, which was scheduled to commence at 12 P.M. at Gan Meir. The parade was then to head out toward Bograshov Street, turning onto Ben Yehuda Steet, then Ben Gurion Boulevard and finally ending at Gordon beach, where a host of musicians such as Ivri Lider, Maya Buskila and Keren Peles were set to perform followed by a party on into the night.

Unlike similar events in the more religious capital, which have sparked bitter right-wing protests and violent demonstrations, the Tel Aviv parade faced little resistance. "The parade here is different from the one in Jerusalem," Army Radio quoted another parade participant. "Here, we celebrate the freedom and rights that we have - it's a festival, a happening, it's a joy. In Jerusalem, it's simply a demonstration for human rights."

There were brief altercations Friday between participants in the Tel Aviv Gay Pride parade and a group of right-wing and religious demonstrators.

No one was wounded and police were not required to intervene.

The demonstrators held signs which read: 'Animals! You have nothing to be proud of, take your medication.'

Meanwhile, Meretz faction chairperson Zahava Gal-On, who attended the march, slammed Shas and its chairman Eli Yishai, who on Thursday attempted to prevent the parade from going ahead by filing a compliant to police.

"It's a historic event for the homosexual community. For the first time, the municipality is running an official center that will provide all the services the community needs," said Itai Pinkas, the mayor's adviser on homosexual, lesbian, transgender and bi