Palestinians warn Israel over Easter restrictions

[Jefferson23]

After annual difficulty accessing religious sites, Palestinians vow to pursue 'other means' if restrictions continue.

Dalia Hatuqa | 03 Apr 2015


The traditional Washing of the Feet at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem during Holy Week is a yearly Easter ritual [Reuters]

Jerusalem - Palestinian Christians said they would not tolerate a repetition of the Israeli restrictions and violence which have in past years marred Holy Week festivities - culminating on Easter Sunday - and have vowed to pursue "other means" if no marked changes are made.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, community leaders expressed concerns that Israeli restrictions will prevent them from celebrating Easter this week, beginning with the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem, where thousands flock to walk along Via Dolorosa - the path believed to have been walked by Jesus before his crucifixion.

"There is one major change this year, and this is April 1, which is the day Palestine officially becomes a member of the International Criminal Court," said Bassem Khoury, a Christian from Jerusalem, and former Palestinian minister of economy. "Denial of freedom of religion is ... an issue we will pursue if we are denied [access to our holy sites]."

For almost a decade, the Easter celebrations have been marked with clashes between local Christians and Israeli troops, who regularly prevent worshippers from accessing the religious sites.

in full: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/04/palestinians-warn-israel-easter-restrictions-150403054811870.html

[guillaumeb]

1. but I thought all 3 Abrahamic religions were guaranteed access

Does this mean yet another legal obligation that the Israelis are ignoring in their quest for an apartheid state?

From the Protection of Holy Places Law:
1. The Holy Places shall be protected from desecration and any other violation and from anything likely to violate the freedom of access of the members of the different religions to the places sacred to them or their feelings with regard to those places.
https://www.templeinstitute.org/holy_places_law.htm

As to East Jerusalem:
The chief dispute revolves around Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, while broader agreement exists regarding the Israeli presence in West Jerusalem.[2] De jure, the majority of UN member states and most international organisations do not recognise Israel's ownership of East Jerusalem which occurred after the 1967 Six-Day War, nor its 1980 Jerusalem Law proclamation, which declared a "complete and united" Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.[4] As a result, foreign embassies are generally located in Tel Aviv and its suburbs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positions_on_Jerusalem

[Mosby]

2. No, the Waqf restricts access to the Temple Mount

And they will not allow Jews and Christians to pray there, only Muslims are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount.

[azurnoir]

3. That is actually by mutual agreement between the Israeli and Jordanian governments

per the 1994 Peace Treaty. The question remains why would Christians and Jews be so wanting to worship at a Mosque? the Wailing Wall is the site where Jews worship and is generally considered one of the holiest sites in Judaism and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre would be the Christian site

[Ageless Democrat]

4. Considering the Temple Mount is one of the holiest sites for Judaism

I think a lot of Jews wants to pray there... but understandably, there is a rule in place, but extremist settlers wants to break the rule.

That is where I part company with Israel.

[guillaumeb]

5. possibly to "reclaim" the mosque for other purposes?

NOT related to Islam.

[Dick Dastardly]

6. The mutual agreement is that the Waqf runs it as it always has since 67 under Israeli control.

Last edited Fri Apr 3, 2015, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Israel has let the Waqf continue to run it as it did before 1967. The Waqf forbids anything but Islam to be practiced anywhere on the Mount. Israel abides by the Waqfs restrictions.
Unlike the Temple mount which only Islam can be practiced, all religions are free to pray at the Wailing, Wall. When Jerusalem was visited by the last couple Popes, they were free to pray at the Wall but forbidden to pray on the Mount.
If I am not mistaken the Church of the Holy Sepchultre does not forbid prayer from other religions either.

[Little Tich]

7. Some people blame the PA for Christians leaving the OTs.

In reality, it's Israel's policies that are to blame. To protect its christian minority, the PA would have to take legal measures, but Israel doesn't allow that, nor does Israel allow economic development that would provide the means for minorities to take care of themselves.