Netanyahu Reverses Ban, Permits Palm Sunday Mass at Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undone an earlier order that barred senior priests from holding Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He instructed authorities to allow Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa to celebrate the Mass as planned. The restriction had marked the first time in centuries that Israeli police kept key Christian leaders out of the holy site. The Latin Patriarchate called it a dangerous precedent that trampled on Christian sensitivities during Holy Week. Officials said the ban stemmed from security concerns after recent missile strikes near the church. Police later agreed to a limited prayer arrangement there, though access to other sites like the Western Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque remains restricted. The decision drew sharp international criticism. Leaders from Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and several other nations condemned the move as an affront to religious freedom. The Vatican also urged peace and respect for worship during this sacred period.
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