Tensions high as Christians flock to Jerusalem

Ma'an
As Palestinian Christians from across the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel arrived in occupied East Jerusalem to celebrate Holy Fire on Saturday, tensions remained high in the Old City.

Young men broke through an Israeli police barricade which prevented them from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, as discord over entry policies was reported throughout the ancient district, including the Christian Quarter and around the Roman Orthodox convent. Injuries were reported among worshipers.

Roman Orthodox patriarch says worshipers barred from access to church

Roman Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said Saturday that "all of the people have the right to access their holy site without harassment, to practice their traditions that have been performed for hundreds of years without any obstacles."

"The Jerusalem Patriarchate announces its total rejection of all procedures that prevent followers and those of other demonimations from reaching the holy Church of Sepulcher during Good Friday and Holy Fire Saturday," he said.

The patriarch added that the orthodox church had worked to secure the access of worshipers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, "yet Israeli forces, particularly some deployed near the Christian area, prevented many worshipers from reaching the church."

National Coalition in Holy Land says tens assaulted

A convoy of buses of Palestinian Christians from inside the Green Line arrived at the Old City to participate in religious services, the trip organized by the National Coalition in the Holy Land and headed by Demetri Diliani.

Diliani told worshipers that "as we are celebrating the most religiously and traditionally significant Christian holiday, we are repeatedly being subject to Israeli violations of our God-given right to freedom of worship."

Palestinian worshipers were banned by Israeli police from either entering Jerusalem or reaching the center of events at the Sepulcher Church, Diliani said, adding that Christian worshipers were replaced by thousands of armed Israeli soldiers and police who "brutally assaulted tens of Christian worshipers during ceremonies," a statement read.

"Israeli restrictions on our freedom of worship constitutes a deliberate form of religious persecution ... This persecution is ideologically driven as evident by the discriminatory practices executed by consecutive governments of Israel against Christians and Muslims in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in East Jerusalem," Diliani said.

The coalition head further warned that repeated assaults against worshipers would only lead to more unrest in Jerusalem. "It is sadly ironic that Israel still gets away with it's superficial claims to democracy at a time it rules 3.5 million Christian and Muslim Palestinians against their will and systematically infringe on our human, national and religious rights," the statement added.

Diliani praised the public position of the Churches in the Holy Land, which rejected unwarranted interference in religious affairs, and the churches' condemnation of assaults against worshipers by Israeli police during Holy Fire celebrations preceding Easter Sunday.

An Israeli police spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Last Saturday, the coalition called on all Palestinian Christians to defy Israeli restrictions and celebrate Easter in East Jerusalem. Palestinians are required to obtain permission from Israel to enter Jerusalem for religious service, family or medical visits, or for other purposes.

Israel implemented a full lockdown of West Bank checkpoints during the Jewish holiday of Passover, with the Israeli army saying that those with the required permits would be allowed entry in Jerusalem.  Full story