Israelis carry a gay pride rainbow flag with the Star of David during the annual Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade on July 21, 2016. Image by AFP/Getty Images

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel Police detained a 33-year-old man who made Facebook threats against participants in the Jerusalem gay pride parade.

The unidentified man, from central Israel, made the threats in a post Thursday on his page before the start of the parade, Israel Police said. He was questioned and released by an Israeli court that ruled he cannot enter Jerusalem until Friday, Israel’s Channel 10 reported.

Uniformed and plainclothes police were assigned to secure the route, the Israel Police said in a statement ahead of the march, which started at 4:30 p.m. Participants are only permitted to enter the parade from the designated start of the route and leave from the designated exit.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“The police will act resolutely against anyone who tries to disturb the peace and the legitimate workings of the march,” the statement said, adding that the uniformed and plainclothes police would be deployed “to maintain order and security” for event participants.

Thousands of people are expected to join the march, the 16th annual pride parade to be held in Jerusalem.

A 16-year-old girl, Shira Banki, was killed in an attack at the July 2015 parade in which five other marchers were stabbed. A haredi Orthodox Israeli man is serving a life sentence for the stabbings.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount