US envoy: Israel’s decision to keep top Catholic clergy out of Holy Sepulchre ‘difficult to understand’

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee says Israel’s decision to keep senior Catholic clergymen from worshiping at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday is “difficult to understand or justify.”

The decision by Israel’s police, says Huckabee on X, “to deny Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and three other priests from entering the Church to offer a blessing on Palm Sunday is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world.”

“Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or less,” he continues. “The four representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction. Statements from the Gov’t of Israel indicate the action to prohibit Cardinal Pizzaballa entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was for safety reasons, but churches, synagogues and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or less.”

“For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify. Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities.”

The Home Front Command guidelines only permit gatherings of up to 50 people if there is a bomb shelter nearby that can be reached in time. It is unclear whether such a space exists in the vicinity of the Holy Sepulchre.