Police, Patriarch Reach Agreement for Palm Sunday Prayer After Global Backlash
Police announced that an agreement had been reached with the Latin Patriarchate to permit controlled access to the church, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa be granted full and immediate entry.
Israeli authorities said they will allow limited Christian prayer at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre following backlash over restrictions that initially barred senior clergy from entering the site during Palm Sunday.
Police announced that an agreement had been reached with the Latin Patriarchate to permit controlled access to the church, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, be granted full and immediate entry.
The move follows an earlier decision by police to block Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo, the custos of the Holy Land, from entering the church during Palm Sunday observances, which mark the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Easter.
Church authorities condemned the initial decision, warning it set a “grave precedent” and disregarded the religious sensitivities of Christians worldwide.
Israeli officials had initially defended the restrictions as a security measure amid the ongoing war with Iran. Missile fragments from intercepted Iranian projectiles have landed in and around Jerusalem’s Old City in recent weeks, including near major religious sites.
Since early March, access to the Old City has been restricted to residents and business owners, with all major holy sites closed to worshippers due to security concerns and limits on public gatherings.
Following the backlash, senior police officials met with representatives of the Latin Patriarchate and agreed on a framework that will allow Christian denominations to hold services under certain limitations. Details of the arrangement are expected to be finalized with church representatives.
Netanyahu said he intervened as soon as he became aware of the incident, instructing authorities to facilitate religious services at the site.
The initial decision drew criticism from international leaders, including US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of worship in Jerusalem.
Authorities have indicated that access to holy sites will continue to be managed under security guidelines while efforts are made to accommodate religious observances during the ongoing conflict.