by Jim Kouri - JERUSALEM -- The gay community in Jerusalem started their 7-day event despite the war-like conditions that exist in the region.

Alan Bolsover of New Israel Fund, which is organized a tour of Israel for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Jerusalem, said that "it is an important time to go to Israel to see what is going on beyond the conflict."

Bolchover told PinkNews, a gay community's news portal, that, "People always say never go to Israel when there is all this fighting, but it's nice to see people going and seeing the good things about the country."

Meanwhile, Jerusalem Open House (JOH), organizer of the event, cancelled the WorldPride parade, because it is not an appropriate time.

Giving reason for the cancellation of the parade, the spokesman for Jerusalem Open House, told to PinkNews that, "The parade, which requires extensive security, will not take place due to the situation."