Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez denounced Israel’s stopping the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Sepulchre as an attack on religious freedom.
“Netanyahu has prevented Catholics from celebrating Palm Sunday at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” he posted on X. “With no explanation whatsoever. With no reasons or justification.
“We condemn this unjustified attack on religious freedom and demand that Israel respect the diversity of faiths and international law. Because without tolerance, coexistence is impossible,” he added.
Israeli police blocked the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the church, which the prime minister’s office said was done out of “concern for his safety”.
European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have already condemned Israel over the incident.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there was “no malicious intent”, only a concern for the Patriarch’s safety.
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