LGBTQ group outraged by reported plan to appoint man who praised 2015 Pride Parade murder as senior cop

The Aguda LGBTQ umbrella group expresses “devastation and outrage” following a report that National Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seeks to appoint a man who praised the fatal stabbing at the 2015 Jerusalem Pride Parade, as a senior police officer.

Sources cited by i24 News yesterday say the unnamed leads the pack to head the police’s new administration for the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox officers.

According to i24, the man has a robust criminal record including charges of assault, property damage and race-based offenses.

Both the Israel Police and Ben Gvir himself are said to support the candidate for the role, which will carry the rank of deputy commissioner.

In a statement on the reported candidacy, the Aguda says: “This is a moral and public red line, and will use every means at our disposal to ensure it isn’t crossed.”

“An appointment like this engenders irrevocable damage to the the already destabilized trust between the LGBTQ community and the police, and will further degrade the security felt by anyone the police is supposed to protect,” says the Aguda.

“We demand the minister immediately retract the planned appointment, disavow this dangerous and destructive message and understand that someone who supports murder, violence, racism and LGBTQ-phobia does not belong in police or civil service at all,” the organization says.