Freedom of worship restricted

Special checkpoints (blue tents) at Damascus Gate

Freedom of worship is a basic human right that Israeli security forces are restricting in Jerusalem. For the third Friday in a row, they denied access to the Old City for Muslim men under the age of 50. That means they could not worship at midday prayers in Al-Aqsa mosque, which is like denying a Catholic the right to attend high mass at a cathedral.  I saw hundreds of police and soldiers, perhaps over a thousand, at the city gates and all along the main streets in the Old City. I saw one young man who was denied access praying on the sidewalk outside a gate.

Police horses ready to disperse crowd

Questioning a young man

Later, other Ecumenical Accompaniers saw clashes between security forces and Palestinians. (Photos courtesy of Olli-Matti Nykanen.)

Harassing two young men

Blocking mosque access and arresting young men

I asked a soldier at one gate why young Muslims were barred from entry on Friday mornings. He replied, "The Palestinians might cause a problem."

Gilad with Hebrew sign: Stop the Occupation

This restriction on worship would end if Israel were no longer an occupying power. At the weekly
demonstration by Women in Black I met a young Israeli peace activist named Gilad, who said he thinks that international pressure is the only way to end the occupation.

Unlike the young Muslim men, I had no restrictions on attending Good Friday services in Jerusalem.

Worship at the Garden Tomb

At the Garden Tomb, surrounded by flowers, and with sweetly singing birds, we prayed for peace in Jerusalem and prayed that authorities would work together for the benefit of the people who live in Israel and Palestine.

Cross for veneration in Ecce Homo

Later, at the Ecce Homo Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion, I worshiped in the "lithostratos," the pavement where Pilate met Jesus and said, "Behold the man." We reflected on Christ's passion, and had a chance to venerate a wooden cross with a touch or a kiss and celebrate communion. As the Scripture from John was read, I could not help but note the part played by the occupying Roman army in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. It was the soldiers who put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, mocked him, struck him in the face, and crucified him. Talk about human rights violations!

After those two services in English, I attended a mystical Byzantine office of the burial of Christ at the Greek Catholic Church, conducted entirely in Arabic (mostly sung.) We remembered Christ's descent to Hades "to save the souls of the just and open for them the gates of paradise." The church sees Christ's time in the tomb as repose from his suffering, and a prelude to resurrection. There were many processions around the church, and one in the street in front, carrying a flower-covered box that represented Christ's body.

Incense-filled altar

We were sprinkled with rose water to remind us of the sweet-smelling myrrh of the ointment- bearing women, and we were given a red flower to take home. Although the sermon was loud and strong, I learned from a fellow worshiper that it was nonpolitical.

Procession outside the Greek Catholic Church