Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem slams spike in Israel’s anti-Christian attacks

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem slammed on Thursday the uptick in anti-Christian attacks in Palestine since the coming of Israel’s new far-right government.

The Vatican-appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa said in an interview with The Associated Press that the life for Christians in the birthplace of Christianity has worsened since, with extremists being emboldened to harass clergy and vandalize religious property at an alarming rate.

“The frequency of these attacks, the aggressions, has become something new,” Pizzaballa stated.

Pizzaballa added, “These people feel they are protected… that the cultural and political atmosphere now can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians.”

Pizzaballa’s warnings come ahead of Easter celebrations set to take place this weekend amid heightened tensions.

On Wednesday, church leaders in Jerusalem condemned a decision by the Israeli occupation to impose strict restrictions on Christians hoping to visit the Holy Sepulchre Church to celebrate Easter.

Israeli police said they will slash the number of Chrsitains allowed to attend by 80 percent in order to maintain safety. The new restrictions mean that only 1,800 people will be allowed inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with another 1,200 outside, instead of the 10,000 worshippers that typically come during Easter.

However, church leaders condemned the decision as an affront to the rights and freedoms of the local Christian community, vowing not to comply with it.

“We shall continue to uphold the status quo customs, and the ceremony will be held as customary for two millennia, and all who wish to worship with us are invited to attend,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate said in a joint statement.

Israel’s restrictions on Chrsitaian coming to the Holy Sepulchre comes after it canceled hundreds of permits for Palestinian Christians in Gaza Strip who were wishing to visit Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank for Easter.

Israel’s anti-Christian incidents have increased in recent months, deepening the fears of Palestinian Christians for their safety, according to the church leaders. In January, Israeli settlers vandalized a Christian cemetery in Jerusalem over the New Year holidays, smashing crosses and knocking down headstones on more than 30 graves.

A month later, two Israelis entered the Church of Gethsemane and physically attacked an archbishop and a priest during a religious service.