Jerusalem Gay Parade Draws Heavy Fire

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL -- The Jerusalem Gay Parade, scheduled for next month, has drawn fire from Jewish rabbis, Muslims and the Vatican.

Hundreds of rabbis have signed a petition calling on ultra-orthodox jews to block roads on the day of the event and to physically stop the parade.

Muslims have also voiced opposition to the event. United Arab List member of Knesset, Ibrahim Sarsur, said: "if gays will dare approach Temple Mount during parade ... they will do so over our dead bodies."

Monsignor Antonio Franco, the Vatican's representative to Israel, calls the event "the few imposing their will on the majority." Jerusalem has religious significance to all the three religions.

The Jerusalem police will decide later this week whether to allow the parade.