Israel Lifts Travel Ban on Palestinian Christians for Easter

Palestinian Christians can now visit Christian holy sites in Jerusalem during the Easter holiday, reported Israel’s ambassador to the United States after a Christian leader and two rabbis took issue with the travel restrictions.The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, said Ambassador Michael Oren called him Wednesday and said the travel ban had been lifted, allowing Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank access to Jerusalem.Oren reportedly said he had contacted Israeli officials about the travel restrictions and they assured him that Palestinian Christians can visit sacred sites for Easter. The ambassador also told NCC to notify him directly if there are incidents at check points with Palestinian Christians in which the orders are not followed.The call from Oren was in response to concerns conveyed by Kinnamon and two American rabbis over Israel’s increased security for Passover, which they said had inadvertently closed the border to Palestinian Christians who want to worship in the Holy City during Easter week.“I hope the Israeli government realizes that it is unacceptable to us that Christians be denied the right to worship in Jerusalem, especially Christians whose roots in the region go back to the time of Christ,” said Kinnamon on Tuesday....

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