Tuesday a representative of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs called for the release of Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki and the other Palm Sunday detainees, Ma'an News Agency reports.

Site commemorating the Stations of the Cross or Via Dolorosa - Old City, Jerusalem

The representative told reporters:

"Abbas Zaki, member of Fatah Central Committee, was arrested Sunday with a dozen other people during a peaceful march from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Checkpoint of the 'Tomb of Rachel.'

"The march was organized by a Christian NGO, to protest against the restrictions of access to Jerusalem imposed on Palestinian Christians during the Palm Sunday.

"We call for the release of Abbas Zaki and people arrested during a peaceful demonstration in support of freedom of access to the Holy City for a major Christian religious holiday."

As is standard practice, Israeli authorities have sealed the West Bank for all non-emergency crossings for the Passover holiday.  Passover coincides with Holy Week, which means countless West Bank Christians have been denied access to Jerusalem where important Holy Week services and processions take place.  One greatly important place is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City; the site is venerated as the resting place Jesus' body before he rose and ascended into Heaven after his crucifiction (according to Christian belief).  Sites across the Old City commemorate the Stations of the Cross.

Saturday of last week, His Beatitude Theofilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, called on church leaders in the city to encourage Palestinians to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem.


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Photo:  Sarah Harlan

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