Israel and the closure of holy sites in Jerusalem: what some fail to explain

Telling a story only partially, leading people to draw the wrong conclusions, is one of the most common forms of manipulation.

A bishop's manipulation of Twitter and his bias against Israel and the United States
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Today, many Catholic media outlets and internet users have echoed a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the highest authority of the Catholic Church in the capital of the State of Israel, in which it denounces the following:

"This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.

The two were stopped en route, while proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act, and were compelled to turn back. As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

This incident is a grave precedent,and disregard the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem."

Interestingly, the statement does not explain why the Israeli police did that. The fourth paragraph simply states the following:

"The Heads of the Churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions: public gatherings were cancelled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide, who, during these days of Easter, turn their eyes to Jerusalem and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."

After reading that statement, many are accusing the Israeli government of violating religious freedom and discriminating against Christians in the Holy Land, accusations based on the fact that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has not explained the reason for today's incident. And since they haven't, I will.

On March 14, the Israeli government announced the following: "Jerusalem’s holy sites stand empty for one reason: protecting worshippers. The same safety measures apply to the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. While the Iranian regime fires missiles at civilians of all religions - even toward Jerusalem’s holy sites during Ramadan - Israel protects the life and safety of all worshippers."

That same day, the Israeli Foreign Ministry published this video of the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jews, completely empty due to those restrictions following Iranian attacks on civilian targets in Israel:

Jerusalem’s holy sites stand empty for one reason: protecting worshippers. The same safety measures apply to the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

While the Iranian regime fires missiles at civilians of all religions - even toward Jerusalem’s… pic.twitter.com/34DVmaT3tD

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) March 14, 2026

Three days later, it was demonstrated that the measure taken by the Israeli government was very prudent and appropriate. On March 17, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported the fall of fragments from an Iranian missile on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, stating:

"An Iranian missile exploded over Jerusalem’s Old City. Its fragments fell on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish Quarter and on the Temple Mount near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Iranian regime is firing missiles toward Jerusalem’s holy sites, endangering Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. Israel, meanwhile, acts to protect worshippers of all faiths in its capital city."

The statement included this photo of the fragments of the Iranian missile that fell on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

For some reason I don't understand, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said nothing about this Iranian attack on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, neither on its Twitter channel nor on its website, which I find very difficult to comprehend. However, the Patriarchate did publish a statement today criticizing the Israeli police, but without explaining the reason for what happened this Sunday. I am Catholic, and what I expect from my pastors is that they tell the truth, the whole truth, and not half-truths that lead the faithful into confusion.

UPDATED 5:49 PM: At 17:12 CET, Israeli Police issued a statement indicating:

"Under Home Front Command directives, life-saving restrictions apply to all holy sites in the Old City—for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

The Old City has been targeted by murderous missiles multiple times this month, alongside constant fire on residential areas. These threats do not discriminate between religions, and neither does our duty to protect you.

We are in active dialogue with religious leaders, including an upcoming meeting with the Patriarch, to examine solutions that balance freedom of worship with public safety."

UPDATED 20:05: At 15:52 CET, the office of the Prime Minister of Israel published this statement:

"Over the past several days, Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles. In one strike, missile fragments crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

As a result, Israel has temporarily asked worshippers from all faiths not to worship at the holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City to protect them.

Today, out of special concern for his safety, Jerusalem police prevented the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa from holding mass this morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Again, there was no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his safety and that of his party.

However, given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world’s Christians, Israel’s security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days".

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Photo: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.