Police say restrictions on ‘Holy Fire’ event in Jerusalem were set by safety engineer

The Israel Police issues an English-language statement in response to accusations by the Greek Orthodox Church that police-imposed restrictions on Saturday’s planned “Holy Fire” ceremony infringe on Christians’ freedom of worship.

The church has decried the limit of 1,800 people at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre as “heavy-handed” and “unreasonable.”

Police say the limitation isn’t their initiative and is a “necessary safety requirement” set by a safety engineer to prevent a potentially deadly stampede resembling the crush that happened several years ago during a Jewish pilgrimage event at Mount Meron, where 45 people died.

Regarding the Holy Fire event taking place on April 15, 2023 in the Old City of Jerusalem, we clarify: limiting participants is not a result of a police initiative, but a necessary safety requirement, per the professional analysis of the safety engineer on behalf of the churches

— Israel Police (@israelpolice) April 13, 2023

The police's primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of all participants, while also allowing freedom of worship. The police have invested many resources and conducted extensive preparation work for the successful and safe continuation of the event.

— Israel Police (@israelpolice) April 13, 2023