The United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has expressed his deep indignation over the actions of the Israeli Police, which prevented the access of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and highest authority of the Catholic Church in the city, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to the Palm Sunday mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Israeli Executive has justified the measure alleging security reasons, within the framework of the restrictions imposed by the Army as a prevention against eventual Iranian attacks. However, the American diplomat has shown his perplexity at this explanation, given that the celebration was planned practically behind closed doors and with an attendance much lower than the limit of 50 people currently set for social gatherings.
Although Huckabee recognizes the convenience of setting this type of rules, the Washington representative has concluded that the incident "constitutes a regrettable abuse of power that is already having significant repercussions worldwide", in view of the cascade of reproaches initially launched by the Italian Government and subsequently seconded by countries such as France, Portugal, Poland or the Palestinian Authority.
Huckabee's censure is especially significant, given that the former governor of Arkansas and Baptist pastor has been characterized by his firm support for Israel. "It is difficult to understand or justify that the patriarch is prevented from entering the church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony," the ambassador stressed.
From Italy, the response has been led by the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who has expressed her frontal rejection of what happened. "Preventing the entry of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land, especially on a solemnity so central to the faith as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only for believers, but for every community that recognizes religious freedom," she affirmed.
The first international reaction beyond Italy has come from the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, who has aligned himself with Rome's stance. "I offer my full support to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and to the Christians of the Holy Land, who are prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in the Holy Sepulchre," the French leader stated on his social media.
Jordan, custodian country of the Esplanade of the Mosques, has also condemned the episode "in the strongest terms" and has described it as "a blatant violation of international law, of international humanitarian law and of the current legal and historical status quo, as well as a violation of the freedom of unrestricted access to places of worship".