Arab and Islamic states condemn Israel over worship restrictions in Jerusalem
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Qatar, and UAE denounce closures at Al-Aqsa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab and Islamic countries have strongly condemned Israel’s restrictions on freedom of worship in Jerusalem, calling for immediate access to sites sacred to both Muslims and Christians, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates jointly rejected measures preventing Muslim worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) and barred the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Custos of the Holy Land from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The unprecedented restrictions sparked international outrage, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse the ban for the remainder of Holy Week. Netanyahu posted on social media, saying he had instructed authorities to grant full access to the Patriarch, citing concerns for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa’s safety amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
“As a result, and 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,” said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Israeli police justified the ban on grounds of security risks linked to the regional war.
Vatican officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, met with Israeli ambassador Yaron Sideman to express regret over the incident and seek clarifications.
The closures affected all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, including Jewish, Muslim, and Christian sites, particularly those without bomb shelters, reflecting heightened security measures in response to the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Regional leaders have warned that restrictions on access to sacred sites risk inflaming broader tensions and undermining the fragile stability of Jerusalem, calling on Israel to ensure freedom of worship for all faiths.
With additional information from Arab News
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