Outrage Grows Over Israeli Restrictions to Jerusalem Sites During Holy Week
During holy week, Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. The action took place while Jerusalem’s holy sites were closed amid a US–Israel war against Iran and concerns over missile strikes near the Old City. By Monday ET, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed that the patriarch be granted “full and immediate access” and police said they had agreed a mutual framework to accommodate Easter ceremonies.
Holy Week access at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Reverend Francesco Ielpo were stopped outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as they prepared to hold the Palm Sunday Mass, the event that marks the start of holy week for Christians around the world. The patriarchate said it was “the first time in centuries” a Latin Patriarch had been turned away on Palm Sunday and called the incident “a grave precedent and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world, who during this week, look to Jerusalem. ” The traditional Palm Sunday procession into the Old City had already been cancelled because of restrictions on public gatherings.
Israeli police said all holy sites in the Old City had been closed to worshippers since the US–Israel war against Iran began on 28 February for security reasons and that the force had rejected the patriarchate’s request for an exemption on Palm Sunday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said worshippers of “all faiths” had been asked not to visit sites while the Old City was being targeted, noting that missiles had “repeatedly targeted” holy sites and that “in one strike, missile fragments crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. ” Netanyahu described the initial restriction as issued out of “special” safety concerns and later ordered full access so services could be held.
Reactions, negotiations and immediate fallout
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa’s office later said the matter had been “addressed and resolved” and expressed “sincere gratitude” to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog for intervening. The patriarchate also said it hoped “appropriate arrangements will continue to be found, enabling prayer to take place in places of worship, particularly in the holy places of all religions, ” stressing the profound importance of the season to hundreds of millions of believers during holy week.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, wrote that the Latin Patriarch would have “full and immediate access” so he could “hold services as he wishes, ” stressing that there was “no malicious intent whatsoever” in the decision to restrict entry. Israeli police said officers had met the cardinal to work out how to accommodate Easter ceremonies and that the Holy Fire lighting would be held in a “symbolic, limi” format as part of those arrangements.
Mike Huckabee, United States Ambassador to Israel, called the initial barring of the patriarch an “unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world, ” and pointed to existing restrictions on gatherings as part of the security guidance. The diplomatic criticism grew as officials, church leaders and ambassadors pressed for clear, practical arrangements to allow worship while addressing safety concerns.
What happens next
Authorities have begun negotiating a mutual framework to enable Easter ceremonies and to allow the patriarch access for services during holy week, but the details remain limited and will depend on security assessments and operational plans. Church leaders have signaled cautious relief but said they will watch for concrete guarantees that prayer can proceed uninterrupted, while government and security bodies weigh the risk to crowds and historical sites. Expect further coordination between the patriarchate, Israel’s police and senior officials in the coming days as formal arrangements for the remainder of holy week are finalized.
