RAMALLAH: Israeli police personnel have been criticized for their tactics following hundreds of Orthodox Christians were stopped from celebrating their religious rituals in a church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Israeli Police Attack Christians in Jerusalem
According to Arab media, several Coptic Orthodox priests were attacked in front of the Church. Israeli troops blocked the celebrations with barriers and roadblocks at the gates of the city, permitting only a few Christians to enter.
They also blocked traffic in Khan Al-Zeit and attacked dozens of Christians’ worshippers making efforts to cross the checkpoints, local media said.
In contrast to past, when as many as 10,000 people packed into the church, only 1,800 will be permitted inside in the current year, with another 1,200 outside of the church. Additional checkpoints around the City will also curb access to the locality around the church.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs termed it as a “blatant assault on the freedom of worship.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced what is said was a “flagrant assault on the current historical, political, and legal status quo in occupied city of Jerusalem.”
These steps “violate global law, humanitarian law and inked agreements,” it added. In a statement, the churches said that they would decline to cooperate with the police personnel restrictions, which they see as part of long-term efforts to push out the local Christians.
Several church leaders have expressed concern over what they term as an atmosphere of impunity in the face of rising actions of violence and destruction targeting Christian community and their properties in the city of Jerusalem.
