The Israeli Prime Minister has backpedalled after blocking Christian leaders from accessing Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Palm Sunday services were cancelled, and in an unprecedented move, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was blocked from entering the church. Instead, he led an outdoor prayer service.
In a statement, the patriarchate warned that a “grave precedent” was being set.
“For the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” it said. “This incident disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”
The Israeli government received international backlash, with US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, describing the ban as "unfortunate overreach" which was "difficult to understand or justify".
Netanyahu has now claimed that Cardinal Pizzaballa was asked not to enter the holy site due to concerns for his own safety.
“Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles” the Prime Minister wrote on X, claiming that a blast had occurred “metres from the Holy Sepulchre.”
“Given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world’s Christians, Israel’s security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days,” Netanyahu’s office has stated.
The Prime Minister added that Cardinal Pizzaballa should be able to enter the building “as he wishes” during Holy Week.
The incident has been criticised by many Christian leaders.
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee affirmed the importance of church leaders accessing the holy site, saying: "It is essential that the longstanding rights and religious freedoms of Christians in Jerusalem are respected and preserved, particularly during Easter... a time when Christians around the world turn their hearts and prayers toward Jerusalem — the spiritual centre of the Christian faith."
Dr Caroline Hull, national director of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, who visited the region last year, said: “It is heartbreaking to see the doors to the Holy Sepulchre and other holy places in Jerusalem locked at any time, but particularly during Holy Week.
“ACN calls on everyone to pray in particular for the Holy Land’s Christians as we start Holy Week, but also for lasting peace in the Middle East and respect for religious freedom.”
Meanwhile, Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster and member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, called for prayers for peace and reconciliation in the wider Middle East:
“Assuring the faithful of the Holy Land of our prayerful support as we enter Holy Week, we pray ever more intently for peace across the world and particularly at this time for our brothers and sisters in the very place where the Lord’s Passion took place," he said.
“Our prayer at this time is to follow the Lord’s message to reject violence and to promote reconciliation and peace.”