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JERUSALEM — The Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday accused Israeli police of infringing on the liberty of worshippers with “heavy-handed” restrictions on what number of pilgrims can attend the “Holy Fireplace” ceremony amid hovering tensions.
Israeli police mentioned the boundaries are wanted for security throughout Saturday’s celebration on the historical Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Twelfth-century holy web site the place Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected.
Saturday’s “Holy Fireplace” celebration comes throughout an uncommon spate of violence within the Outdated Metropolis, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalem’s most delicate holy web site, the compound that’s dwelling to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The tensions spiraled right into a regional confrontation between Israel and Hamas, and had been punctuated Friday when two British-Israeli sisters and their mom had been killed after their automobile got here beneath fireplace close to a Jewish settlement within the occupied West Financial institution. The mom succumbed to her wounds on Monday.
Israel, which imposed related restrictions on the “Holy Fireplace” occasion final 12 months, says it desires to stop one other catastrophe after a crowd stampede at a packed Jewish holy web site left 45 folks lifeless. Christian leaders say there’s no want to change a ceremony that has been held for hundreds of years.
Jap Orthodox Christians imagine that on the Saturday earlier than Easter, a miraculous flame seems contained in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Greek patriarch enters the Holy Edicule, a chamber constructed on the standard web site of Jesus’ tomb, and emerges with two lit candles. He passes the flame amongst hundreds of individuals holding candles, steadily illuminating the partitions of the darkened basilica. The flame might be transferred to Orthodox communities in different international locations on particular flights. The supply of the Holy Fireplace has been a intently guarded secret for hundreds of years, with an abundance of skeptics.
Church officers informed reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday that negotiations with the police over their “heavy-handed” restrictions had failed.
“After many makes an attempt made in good will, we’re not in a position to coordinate with the Israeli authorities as they’re implementing unreasonable restrictions on entry to the Holy Sepulchre,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem mentioned. The restrictions “will restrict entry to the Christians, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and to the Holy Gentle ceremony.”
Israeli police officers acknowledged that they’re rising safety and blocking some routes into the dense Outdated Metropolis and that attendance is restricted within the historical church and courtyard. However in a convention name with reporters, officers mentioned the attendance limits — 1,800 folks contained in the church which Greek Orthodox officers mentioned was a fraction of earlier years — had been set by the church.
Chief Superintendent Yoram Segal of the Jerusalem District Police informed reporters throughout a convention name that the police’s prime precedence is security on a day when Muslims, Christians and Jews are celebrating their very own holidays within the square-kilometer (square-half mile) Outdated Metropolis.
“We’re going to regulate the motion of crowds,” Segal mentioned, including that the holy fireplace ceremony might be out there all through town on video screens and that conferences with the church buildings are ongoing.
Because the rise this 12 months of Israel’s most right-wing authorities in historical past, Christians say their 2,000-year-old neighborhood within the Holy Land has come beneath rising assault.
Kellman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.