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The head of the European Union's diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, denounced a "violation of religious freedom" after the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was prevented by Israeli police from celebrating the Catholic Palm Sunday mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to AFP. Kaja Kallas strongly criticized the decision of the Israeli authorities: "The decision of the Israeli police to prohibit the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Catholic Palm Sunday constitutes a violation of religious freedom." The European official stressed that:
freedom of worship must be guaranteed without exceptions; the special status of the holy places must be respected; the multi-religious character of Jerusalem must be protected.
• Motivation of Israeli authorities
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the police decision: was made for security reasons; had "no malicious intent." Authorities did not provide further details on the nature of the risks invoked. Jerusalem has a unique status, being a major spiritual center for: Christianity; Judaism; Islam. Access to holy sites is regulated by historical and sensitive arrangements, and any restriction could generate international reactions.
• Diplomatic implications
The incident highlights: the fragility of the religious balance in Jerusalem; the sensitivity of security decisions in a religious context; the potential for diplomatic escalation in relations between the European Union and Israel.
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