Tensions are rising in Haifa after last Wednesday, passersby at the Rambam Complex in the city saw signs for the sale of a baby, followed by additional signs posted on erev Shabbos near the entrance to a religious public school in the N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood of the city along with signs for “Gay surrogacies = trading in babies”.

It appears the signs are intended to increase opposition to a toeiva parade in the city, which is planned for this coming erev Shabbos, June 29, 2019, in Merkaz Carmel. There will also be an event to “strengthen family values” in the N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood on Thursday.

Walla News quotes resident Naomi Sela saying “I guess it is connected [to the toeiva parade] due to the ongoing preparations via the internet. I do not know who the activists are behind it”. Married and a mother, Sela is one of the organizers of the family values event, against the toeiva parade that is set to follow on the following day.

Some of the organizers of the family values event tell Walla that they have been threatened in recent days, as well as being targeted by harsh verbal abuse via a Facebook page run by toeiva supporters. They explain one toeiva page was shut down by Facebook when it became too hostile, sending out “harmful messages”.

Some residents are outraged, having learned Haifa City Hall is allocating NIS 450,000 for the toeiva parade, insisting that money can and should be used for far more important things other than the parade.

Sela stresses the family values event is not a political or religious event, but run by secularists, pointing out there are many secular people who oppose the toeiva event and lifestyle, and feel very strongly regarding the traditional makeup of the family, which the toeiva lifestyle destroys.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)