Protesters decry lack of access to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday

Published: 2005-03-21

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) -- Some 150 Palestinians and international peace activists protested Israel's rules on travel as Israeli border police prevented the group from attending Palm Sunday Mass in Jerusalem. The demonstrators -- who were organized by the Rapprochement Center and the Holy Land Trust -- marched from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem waving olive branches and carrying placards to the checkpoint where they were met by 15 Israeli police officers, with another 15 officers arriving shortly afterward. "Easter is coming and it is our right to go to Jerusalem to pray. We need permission to get into Jerusalem. We applied but didn't get it," said Myrna, 17, a student at St. Joseph's School in Bethlehem who declined to give her last name. The group was prevented from moving past the checkpoint. In the meantime, other Palestinians who had permission to cross waited in line at the checkpoint before passing through.

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