“Religious freedom at stake”

Due to the seriousness of this unusual incident, different international leaders have classified this action as a attack on religious freedom and a breach of international law.

The first government to react was that of the Italian Giorgia Meloniwho considered what happened as “an offense” not only for believers, but also for the entire community that recognizes religious freedom.

“Preventing the entry of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land, in addition to a fundamental solemnity for the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only for believers, but for any community that recognizes religious freedom,” he explained in a statement.

Likewise, it has stressed that the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem is “a sacred place for Christianity and, as such, it must be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites.”

He Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajanihas announced via X that this Monday he will ask the Israeli ambassador to Italy, Alon Bar.

“It is unacceptable to have prevented them from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” said Tajani.

France coincides with Italy

After the Italian response, the French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron He also wanted to condemn the decision of the Israeli authorities.

“I condemn this decision by the Israeli police, which adds to the alarming proliferation of violations of the the state in which of the Holy Places of Jerusalem”, he declared in his X account.

Furthermore, he has insisted that “the free exercise of worship in Jerusalem for all religions”.

He President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchezhas joined the rejection of Italy and France demanding that Israel respect “for the diversity of faiths and international law.”

In a tweet, he took the opportunity to criticize Netanyahu’s actions, emphasizing that what happened was done “without any explanation” and “without reasons or motives.”

“Netanyahu has prevented Catholics from celebrating Palm Sunday in the Holy Places of Jerusalem. Without any explanation. Without reasons or motives“said Sánchez.

In addition to these three European governments, Brazil, Palestine o USA They wanted to show their solidarity with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and have once again stressed the seriousness of the acts committed by Israel.

The administration of the Brazilian president Lula da Silva wanted to remember through a note, agreeing with Macron, that these actions are “contrary to the state in which history of the Christian and Islamic sacred sites of Jerusalem and to the principle of freedom of worship”.

Excessive attacks

“The decision made this Sunday […] constitutes an unfortunate excess that is already having significant repercussions worldwide.

In this way, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabeewhich, normally, always supports Israeli points of view.

The authorities of Palestine y Hamas have also joined these statements, emphasizing that This incident not only seriously affects Christianitybut also to the “Muslim world”.

Finally, they have demanded “urgent international intervention.”

“Unreasonable measure”

Following the Israeli police’s refusal to allow Pizzaballa and Ielpo access to the Holy Sepulchre, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed its disagreement with this action, cataloging it as “a clearly unreasonable and disproportionate“.

“This hasty decision, vitiated by serious deficiencies and based on inappropriate considerations, represents a clear violation of the fundamental principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship and respect for the the state in which“, he added in the note.

This celebration was taking place uninterruptedly since the Middle Ages.

Its cancellation represents a “serious precedent” and, as this organization explains, “disregards the feelings of billions of faithful around the world.”

“Not even during the covid pandemic did anything similar happen”declared to Efe a priest who was located in the vicinity of the Old City of Jerusalem.

This problem occurs in the middle of the conflict between Israel and the US with Iran.

Israel justifies the incident

For that reason, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuhas declared via “There was no bad intention”.

Likewise, the leader of Israel explained that Iran had repeatedly attacked these sacred spaces belonging to the three monotheistic religions, referring to the fall of debris from a missile in the Jewish neighborhood of La Medina.

This area is located less than 400 meters from the Esplanade of the Mosques or the famous Western Wall.

However, there are no indications so far that these sites were the specific target of the missiles launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He president of the country, Isaac Herzogsupporting Netanyahu’s statement, spoke with the cardinal, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to convey his “deep regret” as a result of what happened and stressed the importance of “strengthening future coordination between the two.”

Pizza balla responde

During the celebration of Palm Sunday in the Basilica of Gethsemane, Pizzaballa stressed that “Jesus weeps once again for Jerusalem” and still cries for “this Holy Land, still unable to recognize the gift of peace.”

Likewise, after these words, he wanted to respond to the problem with the Israeli police by emphasizing that it is necessary to preserve the right to prayer “respecting the safety of everyone.”

In statements to the Italian network TV2000Pizzaballa wanted to make it clear that the authorities had already alerted them of the inability to hold any type of meeting in places without shelter.

“We had not requested anything publicjust a brief and small private ceremony to preserve the idea of ​​the celebration in the Holy Sepulcher,” stated the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Likewise, he clarified that The incident took place “without confrontation” and that they treated him politely.