JERUSALEM: Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox deputy mayor plans to march 50 donkeys through the streets of the Holy City to coincide with a gay pride parade on Thursday, his office said.
"This expresses what we think — that this is a beastly act," Rabbi Yitzhak Pindrus, who represents the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party on the city council, told the Ynet news website.
His spokesman Menahem Zaide declined to link the donkey march to the parade, saying only: "Donkeys also have rights to be recognized as couples.
"We are in favor of donkey rights," he told AFP.
However, Zaide said they were still awaiting permission from the agriculture ministry.
About 1,000 people were expected to take part in the pride parade under heavy security.
In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox Jew stabbed three participants and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews consider the event to be an abomination and desecration of the Holy City.
