Zion Square, the iconic center in the heart of downtown Jerusalem, is also at the center of a huge controversy over plans by the Jerusalem Municipality to redesign the public space in honor of then 16-year-old Shira Banki who was fatally stabbed in 2015 during the city’s Gay Pride Parade by a religious extremist.
Reporting in the Jerusalem Post, the paper notes, “A NIS (New Israeli Shekel) 60,000 prize will be awarded to the architectural redesign of Jerusalem’s iconic Zion Square that best engenders tolerance to honor the memory of Shira Banki, who was stabbed to death by a religious extremist last July during the capital’s annual Gay Pride Parade. The competition, announced by the Jerusalem Municipality Monday night, is intended to engender greater empathy and compassion among the capital’s numerous warring religious and political factions.”
The top prize, approximately $15,000, is one of three; the second place winner will win NIS 20000 (roughly $5,000) and the third place winner will win NIS 10,000 (about $2,500).
Shira’s mom, Biki, according to the paper, will join the judging panel. Shira was stabbed by Yishai Schlissel, who had just been released after a 10-year stint in prison for stabbing three victims at another Gay Pride Parade in 2005, made his intentions known in a missive stating, ““It is the obligation of every Jew to keep his soul from punishment and stop this giant desecration of God’s name next Thursday.”
And apparently he is not alone in his views. Many readers expressed anger that a public space of such historical import would be co-opted by the LGBTQ community. “Have we finally lost our minds? Have a memorial, no problem, but changing the name of the most well-known square in Jerusalem is beyond ridiculous. I thought I left all this PC crap in America when I came here. Just insanity. WT..F?” seemed to encapsulate the prevailing views.
Others were far less circumspect, “They can call it Abomination Square, but to me and everyone I know, it will ALWAYS be Zion Square.”
There are no further details at this time about contest rules or deadlines.
