Palestinian Christian leader says Christians should not abide by humiliating and discriminatory Israeli regulations

Ma'an, Yusef Daher – Elderly women seeking treatment, teachers trying to access an under-staffed school system, worshipers trying to get to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, why must they all humiliate themselves by asking an occupying force for permission to travel into Jerusalem?

Even with a permit, these people require a military check through metal detectors, turnstiles and magnetic cards registering their fingerprints.

During Easter, parish priests in Bethlehem applied for thousands of permits for their congregations, and secured only a fraction of those requested.

When some with permits tried to cross during Israel's Passover holiday, they were turned back, unable to worship. Others were notified that their permits were issued, but never received them and they were deemed "lost."

Scout groups participating in the procession from Bethany into Jerusalem were reduced this year to four, from dozens. The scouts, and their chaperons, were not granted permits.

The Jericho Catholic group was the only troupe from the West Bank this year.

This system is totally unlawful and discriminating. We, as a community and Churches, should not abide by it.

Yusef Daher is the Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Center of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem in association with the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.