Tel Aviv Pride Parade Returns After Two-Year Hiatus

Tel Aviv's annual Pride Parade took place on Friday after two years without the event. Thousands began marching toward Charles Clore Park, where a large party and stage program were scheduled, after fears until Thursday that the parade might be canceled because of the security situation. The city said it expected hundreds of thousands of participants from Israel and abroad, under the slogan, "Vote with your feet."

The main stage in Charles Clore Park opened at noon and was set to feature dozens of performers, including Anna Zak, Dikla, Netta Barzilai, Ivri Lider, Ran Danker, Shahar Tavoch, Tipex, Carolina, Yuval Raphael and Valerie Hamaty. The event would be hosted by stars from the musical "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", Lee Biran, Michael Ben David and Tal Klay. A parallel "Love Stage 360" was due to open at 2:30 p.m. with DJs including Neta Zavi, Ganesh, Sharon Atar, Noam Lashem and Bobaz Lobster.

At the start of the march, two participants told ynet, "Coming back after two years is amazing. We are very patriotic as gay men. Tel Aviv is our home, we want equal rights for everyone, straight, gay, Jewish, ultra-Orthodox, secular. We are all human, and love your neighbor as yourself." The parade came amid heightened security, and police said they arrested a 37-year-old Haifa resident on suspicion of incitement to violence against participants after he posted, "They were destroyed once. Apparently it's time to destroy again." Police described it as a targeted threat against the gay community.

Ahead of the march, Deputy Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor and IGY chair Chen Arieli said that at a time when people are trying to weaken democracy and harm human rights, Pride is "a clear civic statement for strong democracy in Israel." She said the gay community had fought for decades for basic rights, recognition and safety, and that the struggle was not only about LGBTQ people but about Israeli society as a whole.

The municipality warned of major traffic changes. Parking on central streets along the beachfront, including Herbert Samuel, HaYarkon, Gordon and Kaufmann, was banned until 8 p.m., and many streets were closed to traffic, including parts of Rokach, HaYarkon, Herbert Samuel, Kaufmann, Nahum Goldman, Eilat, Aliplet, Derech Shlomo, Mapeu, Frishman, Trumpeldor, Nesiya, Geula, Nehemiah and the Kerem HaTeimanim area. Residents were urged to use public transport and plan ahead. The parade has been held since 1998, but not in the past two years, after 2024 was canceled because of the October 7 attack and last year's event was called off after Israel launched Operation With All Due Respect shortly before it was due to begin.