Israel seeks to scale down or move gay pride parade

JERUSALEM, Nov 6 (Reuters) Israel's attorney-general has ordered police to talk to gay leaders to convince them to make a planned gay pride event in Jerusalem more modest, or even move it out of the city, amid fears of violent protests.

Shortly after Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz's announcement yesterday, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews rioted in the city, setting containers ablaze as policemen on horseback rode through the streets to stop them. Several people were detained.

For the past week, ultra-Orthodox Jews have launched similar protests against the parade, scheduled for Friday, in Jerusalem and other religious Jewish communities in Israel.

''The attorney general has ordered police to evaluate and present a reasonable alternative proposal ... to holding the gay pride parade at a date in the near future in Jerusalem,'' Israel's Justice Ministry said in a statement.

Police had met Mazuz earlier to discuss concerns that despite a tightening of security ahead of the parade, forces would not be able to prevent violence expected from tens of thousands of mainly ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters.

''The decision sends a clear message to inciting sources who make cynical use of violence and terror to change the political reality,'' Noa Sattath, chairwoman of gay rights group Jerusalem Open House, told Israel's Ynet News Web site.

Right-wing leader and ultra-Orthodox Jewish activist Itamar Ben Gvir told the Web site that Mazuz ''proves again that he supports the enemies of Israel and various abominations and goes against all that is holy to the biblical laws of Israel''.

Thousands of police officers are expected to be on patrol to reinforce the event, which up to 8,000 people are set to attend.

Israeli National Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police would discuss changing the event with gay leaders over the next few days. He also said it was possible that the parade would be moved just outside of Jerusalem, or rescheduled.

''It's important to come to an agreement for it to take place on an alternative route, for the parade to be conducted in a more modest manner,'' Rosenfeld said.

A gay pride event last year in Jerusalem was marred by the stabbing of three people by an ultra-Orthodox Jew. More than a dozen protesters were arrested and hundreds threw urine and faeces at marchers.

Reuters SBA VP0427