Israel temporarily closes Jerusalem holy sites

Israeli officials have closed several holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and al-Aqsa Mosque, citing safety concerns due to Iranian strikes. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, was barred from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre yesterday, “the first time in centuries, the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the patriarchate stated. The Jordanian government, which serves as the custodian of Muslim holy sites in the city, condemned the closure as a “flagrant violation of international law and historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem.” The closures have been partially lifted, but watch for the religious struggles over Jerusalem to become far more intense and violent.