[JURIST] The Jerusalem District Court Sunday approved the city's annual gay pride parade, clearing the way for an international gay pride event [Jerusalem World Pride 2005 factsheet] later this summer. The parade, planned for this Thursday, had caused a divide in the deeply religious capital city. Opponents, including Jews for Morality, had sent an open letter [text] to city officials voicing objection, while supporters had petitioned Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski [Ynet news report] to allow the march. Jerusalem city officials said last Thursday that the parade would be banned [JURIST report], prompting legal action. The court said Sunday that a ban was outside the city's jurisdiction, and that the mayor could not cancel the parade simply because he did not agree with the marchers. The ruling directed the city and the mayor personally to cover the organizers' legal expenses. The Jerusalem Post has more.