The US-Israeli war with Iran has caused significant damage over the past four weeks, with sectors such as aviation and energy bearing the brunt of the conflict. However, the conflict has now begun to hinder religious life and access to sacred sites as key ceremonies have been disrupted and restrictions imposed.
In a highly unusual move, Catholic leaders were prevented from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.
The patriarchate said in a statement that Israeli police had blocked the church’s top officials from entering the site to lead mass.
Read also | What is Palm Sunday? Everything you should know about Holy Week
The Patriarchate condemns Israel’s decision
It added that the two leaders were stopped on their way despite traveling privately and without any form of procession or ceremony and were forced to return. As a result, for the first time in centuries, the heads of the Church were unable to lead Mass on Palm Sunday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The patriarchate described the incident as a serious and unprecedented development and said it was ignoring the feelings of billions of Christians around the world who look up to Jerusalem during this holy season. She added that preventing the entry of senior officials is a clearly disproportionate and grossly disproportionate measure.
She also accused the Israeli authorities of a “hasty” and “flawed” decision that was tainted by faulty reasoning. AND
Meaning of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest period in the Christian calendar, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is widely believed to be the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, CNN reported.
Israeli authorities restrict access to religious sites
The development comes at a time when Israeli authorities are restricting access to key religious sites in East Jerusalem. Religious sites include the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall for security reasons. Tel Aviv captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and has fought several wars since then. However, restrictions were rarely imposed on sacred sites, especially during major religious periods.
Read also | Picture of the day: A beaming girl sitting on her father’s shoulders emerges from Al-Aqsa
Israel Police said all religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem were closed to worshippers, especially those that do not have standard protected areas to ensure public safety and security.
The number of Jews at the Western Wall is limited
Amid continued tensions, the number of Jews allowed to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem has been limited to just 50 a day, according to the report. However, since the beginning of the war in late February, Israeli authorities have completely stopped Muslims from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque. This included their prohibition even in the month of Ramadan.
Netanyahu says no malice
As the patriarchate blamed Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement clarifying that there was “no ill intent” in imposing the ban, adding that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the celebrants. The statement added: “However, given the sanctity of the week leading up to Easter for Christians around the world, Israeli security forces are putting together a plan to allow church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days.”
