Palestinians celebrate Palm Sunday, but some can't go to Jerusalem

Published: 2007-04-02

ABOUD, West Bank (CNS) -- Dressed in their Sunday best, children grasped palm fronds decorated with yellow, orange, red and purple flowers as they followed their parents and grandparents -- some of whom wore traditional Palestinian dress -- around the grounds of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church April 1. Other parishioners, undeterred by stormy skies, held small olive branches, praying as the procession wound its way around to the front doors of the church. Palm-frond arches decorated the church's center aisle. "We feel happy we are celebrating together," said Abdullah Iskandar, 43, who is originally from the small village of Aboud but now lives and works in nearby Ramallah. On holidays, he and his wife and children return to Aboud to be with his family, he said. As in previous years, Christians from around the West Bank and Gaza had to apply for special permits to enter Jerusalem for the holiday. Father Firas Aridah of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Parish said he applied for 419 permits and received 310. The request for the 109 others -- mainly young men -- were rejected based on security considerations, because at some point the young men had been in prison, he said.

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