The Israeli police prevented yesterday the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, as the Catholic Easter has begun and he wanted to conduct the Palm Sunday Service.
The obstruction of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa takes place for “first time after centuries”. The incident “ignores the sensitivities of billions of people around the world”, stated the announcement of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, while in the same announcement reference is made to an incident which constitutes a “serious precedent”.
Israel, having the security control of Jerusalem, imposes from time to time restrictions of access on Christians and Muslims to holy sites.
The Israeli government then issued an announcement, according to which instructions had been given for all the holy sites of all religions that mass gatherings would not be possible due to the risk of Iranian air raids in the region.
“There was absolutely no malicious intention, only concern for the safety of the Cardinal,” had explained yesterday the office of Netanyahu on X.
Today, after reactions, such as of Giorgia Meloni and Emmanuel Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a post that he has given an order to the authorities for the access of the Patriarch to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre to be allowed, while he explained that his entry yesterday was prevented for security reasons.
Sources: Euronews [1], [2]
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