Israel Denies Palestinians Access to Palm Sunday 18/03/2008

by **Admin** Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:43 am

Thousands of Palestinian Christians were denied access to eastern Jerusalem to celebrate Palm Sunday as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, led thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world on the traditional procession into the Holy City.

Since 1993, when the Palestinians and Israelis signed the Declaration of Principles in Washington, kicking off the Oslo peace process, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) sealed off Jerusalem to the Palestinians in the West bank and Gaza Strip as well as for Arab Christians even from Jordan and Egypt, with which Israel signed peace treaties.

Occupied Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah led thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world on the traditional procession into the Holy City on Palm Sunday, but the peaceful celebration was marred by Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip and an attempt by Israeli extremists to destroy the home of Ala Abu Dhaim, the Palestinian man who shot eight Israelis in Jerusalem last week before being killed himself, in Occupied Jerusalem's Jabal Mukaber neighborhood.

Palm Sunday commemorates followers of Jesus Christ shaking branches to welcome him when he entered Jerusalem. The event marks the beginning of the holy week during which, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was betrayed by one of his supporters, Judas, crucified, and then resurrected on Easter Sunday.

The Independent Catholic News (ICN) on Tuesday reported that, “Palestinians and internationals, Muslims and Christians, gathered at the Lazarus Gate checkpoint to commemorate Palm Sunday and highlight the travel restrictions the Israeli government imposes on Palestinians through the use of permits and Israel's separation barrier.”

Participants carried olive branches, palm leaves, and signs reading, "Stop the Wall" and "Where could Jesus go?" When they arrived at the Lazarus Gate the group worshipped together.

Nora Carmi of Sabeel told ICN: "Today, what we are doing is re-living this memory of Jesus]and challenging the authorities in the same nonviolent, peaceful way, that Jesus did . . . A few soldiers with their guns and their tear gas, are not going to stop us from praying."

The IOF police arrived and threatened to fire tear gas at the worshippers, but they continued with some Scripture readings. While the group was completing their event on the grounds of a local religious community, the IOF police came and again told the worshippers to disperse.