Status: 04/09/2023 12:33 p.m
Ramadan, Passover and Easter – believers from all over the world celebrate in the Old City of Jerusalem. But the ceremonies are overshadowed by tensions. During the night Palestinians again barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Believers from all over the world have traveled to Jerusalem to take part in religious celebrations. Several festivals coincide this year – the Muslim month of fasting Ramadan, Passover and Easter. But tensions overshadowed the ceremonies.
Tens of thousands of Jews gathered at the Wailing Wall for the traditional priestly blessing. Not far from there, hundreds of Palestinians prayed on the hill with the Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Under police protection, Jews visited the hill, which is also sacred to them. Palestinians protested against it.
Police operations in the Al-Aqsa Mosque
The more than 2,000 police officers deployed in Jerusalem were on high alert because of the tense security situation. Police Chief Doron Turgeman said police would ensure people of all religions could celebrate safely.
During the night a group of Palestinians again barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. However, this time there were no clashes with the police.
A raid had escalated a few days ago. The police used violence against Palestinians who had barricaded themselves in the mosque with firecrackers and stones. They wanted to be able to pray in the mosque overnight. Israel only allows this during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Israel imposes an entry ban
In response to the ongoing tensions, Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant, who remains in office, imposed an entry ban. He announced that he would close the border crossings to the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip until the end of the Jewish Passover holiday. Galant was removed from office by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a domestic dispute, but an official letter of dismissal is still pending.
Until midnight on April 12, only humanitarian emergencies should be allowed to cross the borders. Palestinians cannot come to Israel to work or to pray.
Easter Vigil celebrations in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The celebrations of the Catholics passed quietly. In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, called for forgiveness and hope. People don’t really know how to love one another, said the Italian Franciscan. This leads to a “pretty depressing time”.
For historical reasons, the central Easter Vigil of Roman Catholic Christians was celebrated on Saturday morning in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On the night of Sunday, scout groups and pilgrims marched through the old town.
The German-speaking Lutherans celebrated their Easter service in the early hours of the morning on the grounds of the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives.
Orthodox churches celebrate on April 15th
Because of different calendar calculations, the celebrations of Holy Week began for the Orthodox Churches on Palm Sunday.
The highlight of the Orthodox Easter is the more than 1200 year old liturgy of the “Holy Fire” on April 15th. According to orthodox belief, a flame is miraculously ignited in the chapel revered as the tomb of Christ. The fire is then passed on to the faithful in the crowded church and in the alleys of the old town.