Israel prevents Christians from reaching church to celebrate holidays

Israeli police Saturday beefed up their military presence and procedures across Jerusalem, preventing Christians from reaching Al Qiyamah Church to celebrate their holidays.

WAFA news agency reported that Israeli police set up hundreds of military checkpoints and roadblocks at all entrances of the old city of Jerusalem and at all roads leading to the church, under the pretext of securing the Christians’ celebrations of the holy Saturday and Easter on Sunday.

However, the Israeli intensified procedures prevented Christians from reaching the church in Jerusalem, while the ones from the West Bank were denied access due to Israel’s refusal to issue them entry permits into Jerusalem.

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

The Israeli authorities rarely issues entry permits for Palestinians either for work or for prayers at al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which drives a large number of them to enter without permits.