Sunday, May 12, 2013

Israeli Police Mistreated Orthodox Clergy at Easter; Israel Apologizes to Egypt for Coptic Cleric Incident

A dozen senior church leaders in the Holy Land say Israeli police mistreated clergy -- including a Coptic Orthodox Egyptian cleric -- during Orthodox Easter services, the Canada website reports today (May 12, 2013). Orthodox Easter was celebrated on May 5 this year.

The leaders signed a letter on May 5 expressing concern and saying policemen allegedly used force and prevented clergymen and pilgrims from entering places of worship during Holy Saturday (May 4).

The event drew thousands of Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City and hundreds of Israeli police were on guard during the day.

A spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, Paul Hirschson, said Israel apologized this week to Egypt for the incident on Holy Saturday, which involved a Coptic Egyptian cleric. He added the incident was being investigated.

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