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The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, who yesterday urged Israel's government to provide access to Jerusalem for Christians living on the West Bank, expressed his thanks for the Ambassador's message. "On Wednesday I received a call from (Oren) indicating he had been in touch with Israeli officials and that they have now assured him that travel restrictions on Palestinian Christians from the West Bank have been lifted for Easter -- and that we should notify him directly if there are reports from check points that these orders are not being followed," Kinnamon said. Kinnamon also expressed his gratitude to Rabbi Steve Gutow, President and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director and Counsel of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, for adding their voices to Kinnamon's request for freer access for Palestinian Christians to Christian holy sites. Yesterday's story is reprinted below. National Council of Churches urges Israeli government New York, March 30, 2010 -- The National Council of Churches is asking the Israeli government to provide access for Palestinian Christians who wish to visit Christian sites in Jerusalem during Holy Week. Israel has stepped up security between Israel and the West Bank, essentially closing the border to all except individuals carrying government approved permits. However, reports from NCC partners in Jerusalem indicate that some Israeli checkpoints have denied access to the city and its holy sites for many Christians who have been given Easter permits.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary, said he understood Israel's need to provide strict security during the religious holidays, when law enforcement agencies are particularly vigilant. "But I hope the Israeli government realizes that it is unacceptable to us that Christians be denied the right to worship in Jerusalem, especially Christians whose roots in the region go back to the time of Christ." Kinnamon urged Israel to open its doors to West Bank Christians as widely as possible. Christians from outside the area who are visiting Jerusalem, and Christian Arabs who live in Israel, have free access to the holy sites in Jerusalem. Two leading rabbis have echoed Kinnamon's request to Israel to make it easier for Christians who live in occupied territories to have the same access.
This year, through a
confluence of calendars, Eastern and Western Christians will celebrate
Easter on the
same date. This means that, in terms
of celebrating the most important events of their faith, all Christians will
be focused together and at the same time on what happened in
But travel restrictions
encountered by Christians who live on the West Bank have made it impossible
for thousands of the faithful to celebrate at some of
Christianity's holiest sites.
NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell) , pjenks@ncccusa.org |