"For the first time in centuries" the Israeli authorities stopped the Roman Catholic cardinal fro...
Watch the Original
Engagement Metrics
About the Creator
Craig Murray is a Scottish author, journalist, and former British diplomat who served as ambassador to Uzbekistan, known for his whistleblowing on human rights abuses. His content style is often polemical, critical of Western foreign policy and Israel, blending sarcasm with strong anti-Zionist views. Credibility is mixed: respected for firsthand diplomatic insights but criticized for bias in political commentary.
What's This About?
The post highlights an incident on March 29, 2026, where Israeli authorities barred Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Fr. Francesco Ielpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass, citing safety restrictions limiting gatherings over 50 people amid regional tensions.[1][2] The Latin Patriarchate called it a 'grave precedent' disrespecting the Status Quo agreement governing holy sites, claiming it was unprecedented in centuries, even under Muslim rule.[1][2] The post contrasts this with historical Muslim governance and taunts 'Christian Zionists,' framing it as hypocrisy in Israeli treatment of Christians.
🔥Why It's Trending
The event occurred just days before the query on March 31, 2026, during Holy Week, amplifying global Christian attention to Jerusalem's holy sites.[1][2] International backlash, including condemnations from Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, plus Israeli officials' apologies, fueled outrage and media coverage.[1][2] Timing with ongoing Middle East escalations makes it highly relevant to debates on religious freedoms and the Status Quo.[4][5]
💡Fun Facts
- 1The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is governed by the 19th-century Status Quo, shared by Catholic, Orthodox, and Armenian churches for daily liturgies.[1]
- 2This was the first reported Palm Sunday barring of church heads in centuries, though the church has closed briefly before, like in 2018 over taxes.[1][3]
- 3Israeli police later approved limited prayers, and PM Netanyahu called the initial block 'unfortunate.'[1]
- 4Palm Sunday Mass was redirected to the Latin Patriarchate headquarters with limited attendance.[2]
- 5The incident echoed COVID-era restrictions but stemmed from security fears near sites like the Western Wall and Dome of the Rock.[1][4]
📚Read More
← Swipe to see more →
More Trending on Twitter
Do you have to be able to pass a basic American History test to be in Congress? Apparently not. S...
Do you have to be able to pass a basic American History test to be in Congress? Apparently not. She thinks World War II is World War Eleven. A proud product of The Learing Center. https://t.co/X9yCM4zfef
by John Rich🇺🇸
Say his name and he appears! @joehendry will be LIVE in concert TONIGHT on #WWERaw! 📍: Laredo...
Say his name and he appears! @joehendry will be LIVE in concert TONIGHT on #WWERaw! 📍: Laredo, TX 🎟️: https://t.co/yz7PNZVcix 📺: 8 ET/5 PT on @netflix https://t.co/CJEJe6Z1xJ
by WWE
Sure what Jimmy Kimmel said was over the line, but I just think he should be fired because his sh...
Sure what Jimmy Kimmel said was over the line, but I just think he should be fired because his show sucks and he’s a shit comedian.
by Brandon Herrera