Israel Allows Limited Prayer at Holiest Christian Site After Backlash

(SeaPRwire) –   West Jerusalem faced criticism for barring access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

Following extensive international criticism over restricting access to Christianity’s holiest site, Israel has permitted limited entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

On Sunday, Israeli police barred senior Catholic clergy from entering the church to conduct a private Palm Sunday Mass at the location where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified. Instead, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa held Mass at the nearby St. Savior’s Monastery.

This action represented the first such interruption in centuries during a holiday that signifies the beginning of Holy Week on the Western Christian Church calendar and honors Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

The Latin Patriarchate stated that the decision hindered freedom of worship and breached the status quo in Jerusalem, labeling it “a clearly unreasonable and excessively disproportionate measure.”

Shortly after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that he had “directed the relevant authorities to grant Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch, full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem,” noting that the measures were put in place due to security worries regarding Iranian retaliatory strikes.

“Even though I recognize this concern, upon learning of the incident involving Cardinal Pizzaballa, I directed the authorities to allow the Patriarch to conduct services as he desires,” he wrote.

Early on Monday, Israeli police confirmed they had approved a “limited prayer framework” for the church following consultations with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Police stated that details of the arrangement are set to be finalized after additional talks with church representatives.

Jerusalem’s key holy sites have faced restrictions amid the ongoing conflict, following the Israeli and US attack on Iran initiated on February 28, which occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, stayed closed during Eid al-Fitr for the first time since 1967, preventing worshippers from observing the end of Ramadan there.

Worship restrictions in Jerusalem drew criticism from Western governments, including the United States, France, and Italy, with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee describing them as “an unfortunate overreach.”

The Russian Orthodox Church had also previously expressed concern about the restrictions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the Holy Fire ceremony—an important Orthodox event—is held annually on Holy Saturday according to the Eastern Christian Church calendar. This year, it takes place on April 11.