ANTI-GAY PROTESTS, JERUSALEM (Israel, 2006-2007)

The first Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem, organized in 2002, passed off without incident. In 2006, at the time of the Lebanese-Israeli war, things were different. The planned international Gay Parade was scrapped and even a local version ran into protests from ultra-orthodox Jews and Islamic and Christian clergy. Thousands of orthodox Jews fought with the police daily, until the parade was canceled. To replace it, a homo rally was organized in a hermetically sealed stadium. In 2007 the Gay Pride Parade consisted of nothing more than walking along a heavily-policed, two-kilometer route in Jerusalem. – Wearing jute sackcloth as a traditional sign of grief, ultra-orthodox Jewish rabbis address the crowd during a mass protest march in Jerusalem against a gay parade planned for the city. Religious Jews, ultra-right-wing Jewish activists and religious Muslims promised to prevent the parade from taking place in the Holy City at all costs.

ANTI-GAY PROTESTS, JERUSALEM (Israel, 2006-2007)

An ultra-orthodox Jew in the midst of riots against an upcoming gay parade, in the ultra-orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem.

ANTI-GAY PROTESTS, JERUSALEM (Israel, 2006-2007)

Riot policemen watch a protester who fell on the ground, as a mass demonstration by ultra-orthodox Jews against an upcoming gay pride parade develops into a riot situation in Jerusalem.

ANTI-GAY PROTESTS, JERUSALEM (Israel, 2006-2007)

Donkeys covered with pink signs reading 'Proud' during a 'Beast Parade' protest by ultra-orthodox Jews, making a derogatory comparison with an upcoming gay pride parade in Jerusalem.

ANTI-GAY PROTESTS, JERUSALEM (Israel, 2006-2007)

A woman is detained by police after she and other members of the gay and lesbian community attempted to hold an alternative gay pride parade in the streets of Jerusalem.

BEDOUIN OF THE ISRAELI NEGEV (2001-2003)

For centuries the Bedouin have lived in the Negev desert, which with the founding of Israel in 1948 came into Israeli hands. Some 90,000 Bedouin fled to Egypt or Jordan; the remaining 10,000 decided to remain. They became subject to Israeli politics, which focused on concentrating the Arab desert peoples in cities controlled by the Israeli state. Today 60,000 Bedouin live in such cities, which suffer from unemployment, poverty and criminality. Another 70,000 Bedouin refuse to give up the land of their birth and their lives in 45 towns not acknowledged by the state. These towns lack such basic amenities as water, electricity and sewers. The fate of the Bedouin of the Negev desert interested freelance journalist Ahikam Seri (b. Israel, 1972). He produced an extensive reportage on the circumstances in which they live and their struggle against the Israeli government. This is increasing in vehemence because, as a result of religious and social economic circumstances, the Bedouin – as tribal communities traditionally loyal to various regimes – increasingly declare their solidarity with the Palestinians.

BEDOUIN OF THE ISRAELI NEGEV (2001-2003)

BEDOUIN OF THE ISRAELI NEGEV (2001-2003)

BEDOUIN OF THE ISRAELI NEGEV (2001-2003)

BEDOUIN OF THE ISRAELI NEGEV (2001-2003)