Jerusalem Pride participants begin gathering under tight security

Participants in the Jerusalem Pride Parade are gathering under tight security for the annual march.

Those entering the parade gathering point have to go through two security checkpoints and the central Jerusalem gathering point is being secured by dozens of police and riot police forces.

And a strict separation zone has been zone set up between the parade and a cordoned area set up for a protest against the march organized by far-right activists.

“It’s stressing people out,” says Noam Adkin, who came from Haifa for the parade.

“The security feels stricter than previous years — stricter regulations and more riot police,” he continues.

Adkin says he and a bunch of friends were verbally abused by a group of youths as they made their way to the parade.

“The most hateful people are in the government right now so the parade feels more important than ever,” he adds.