Palestinian Christians to be barred from Old City

[azurnoir]

Palestinians, particularly Christians will be barred from entering Jerusalem's Old City and accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday, when eastern Orthodox Christians observe Sept An-Nour, or Saturday of light.

Church officials were informed by Israeli police that only international pilgrims would be allowed to access the area, Jerusalem officials said on Wednesday.

On Palm Sunday, West Bank Christians were prevented from participating in the Triumphal Entry procession, which traces the path believed to have been taken by Jesus on his return to the holy city before his death. Though thousands of West Bankers were granted Easter permits so they could access the area, a Passover closure announced the day before the Jewish holiday began shut down checkpoints for permit holders.

It was unclear whether the restrictions would be in place for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=273216

[louis-t]

1. How can they tell by looking at them?

Do they have to wear a scarlett 'C'? Do they have to have an "I'm a Christian" card?

[Ken Burch]

2. They offer them ham sandwiches, I'm thinking.

n/t.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. Not a lot of ham in Israel OR Palestine. A beer, maybe?

[azurnoir]

6. Sacramental wine, that would be the clincher n/t

[Ken Burch]

12. Yeah that's it.

And actually, on the Israeli side, the "no pork, ever" thing hasn't always been that big of a deal(with the ultrareligious, yes, but not with the rest).

[WVRICK13]

3. If I Lived In Israel

I would urge my government to stop poking people with insults and make it safe for all by being good neighbors. Even a mouse will fight back when cornered. I would lay the death of fellow Israelis at the feet of the Israeli government.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

5. These tactics are part of the program to "encourage" Palestinian Christians to leave.

[shira]

7. Let's see how accurate this OP claim is for the next 72 hours, okay?

[azurnoir]

8. the OP makes no definite claim concerning the next 72 hours n/t

[shira]

10. the claim is that Israel will bar Palestinian Christians from Old Jerusalem

[azurnoir]

11. If you read closely

the article says Palestinians not just Palestinian Christians, the article centers on Christians because of the religious importance of this weekend

[azurnoir]

9. Israeli rules on Easter access to Jerusalem unclear

Rumors abound about whether or not Palestinian Christians from the West Bank will be able to access Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre over Easter, as some crossings into the city were locked and a general closure prevails on the West Bank.

Access restrictions will be implemented by several arms of the Israeli military, police and border police units, many of which overlap or cancel out eachother.

Israeli army

Imposed a general closure on the West Bank on the start of the Jewish Passover holiday that will last until the end of the holiday on 7 April.

According to a military spokesman on Thursday, Palestinians issued permits for family visits and religious services will not be subject to the general closure as of 1 April for a period of two weeks.

A news release issued by the Israeli Ministry of Defense said 10,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and 500 Palestinians in Gaza were issued permits for the Easter holidays. Palestinians from Gaza were given one week permissions, while Palestinians in the West Bank were issued two-week permissions.

The spokesman said some Palestinians with permissions trying to access Jerusalem may have been unable to do so before 1 April, when a series of "goodwill measures...for the benefit of the Palestinian population in the Judea and Samaria region and the Gaza Strip" went into effect.

As of Thursday, he said, the general closure of the West Bank would no longer prevent Palestinians with permissions for the holidays to leave the area.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=273457