Netanyahu revokes ban on Latin patriarch from entering Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revoked a ban that prevented the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and holding services. 

The decision came hours after Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic leader in the Holy Land, from accessing the site, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, to hold Palm Sunday mass.

Church officials said the patriarch and other senior clergy were traveling to the church “privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act,” when they were stopped by Israeli police and told to turn back, marking the first time in centuries Palm Sunday was blocked at the key holy site.

Facing mounting pressure from church and foreign leaders, Netanyahu intervened and instructed authorities that the cardinal “be granted full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.” He added that the restriction had