New approach needed by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem to ensure unimpeded access to city’s holy sites
Holy Fire Saturday in Jerusalem on 11 April was marked with violence against Christian worshipers, as Israel security personnel once again denied Christians their right to worship freely in Jerusalem. Worshipers who managed to enter Jerusalem’s Old City found themselves trapped between checkpoints placed a few meters from one another. Access to the Holy Sepulchre Church was denied, as was access to the Orthodox Patriarchate at the rooftop of the church. The plaza area inside the Patriarchate remained empty except for approximately 100 Christians who endured beatings and checkpoints before they managed their way through. Inside the Patriarchate’s plaza there were more armed Israeli security personnel than worshipers. As per Jerusalem’s legal historical Status Quo, local worshipers have the right to assemble inside the Patriarchate and to wait for the Holy Fire once it arrives from the empty tomb.
This entry is original published by WCC.
