More than 22,000 people attended Thursday's gay pride parade in Jerusalem.

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Thousands of people gathered in the Liberty Bell Park, as police and security forces blocked nearby streets in preparation for a large turnout.

Photo: AP

Photo: AFP

Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Labor MKs participate in the parade (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Photo: Motti Kimchi

At the entrance to the parade, the participants were checked carefully—each examined with a hand-held metal detector. Twelve people were detained for questioning on suspicion that they intended to disrupt and harm the march. One of them was found carrying a knife.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Dozens of people also gathered at an event commemorating Shira Banki, who was murdered in the parade two years ago.

Shira Banki, next to her a quote: 'better to teach good than denounce evil'

The participants scattered white flowers as they marched through the location where Banki was murdered, and her parents, Uri and Mika, also participate in the events.

Participants carrying white flowers (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Near the parade, in the area of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, extreme right-wing activists from the Lehava organization—which strictly opposes Jewish assimilation—were protesting against the parade.

A heavy police presence was deployed to maintain order near the Lehava protest.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

One right-wing activist apparently attempted to photograph a notebook containing the pictures and names of potential suspects carried by a police officer at the scene. Police therefore attempted to detain the suspect leading to a commotion. Police managed to disperse rioters without anyone being hurt.