Christians Speak Out About Israeli Obstruction to Worship and Pilgrimage

Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Israeli authorities are obstructing Christians from worship, misleading millions of pilgrim tourists and minimising tour times in Nazareth and Bethlehem, according to claims by Church leaders and local Palestinian Christians.In Forbidden Pilgrimage, a new documentary airing on Al Jazeera, Archbishop Atallah Hanna and Archimandrite Milatios Basal, leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, recount personal incidents of persecution by authorities and extremists, as well incidents with other clergy and congregation members. “Security is used as an excuse to stop worshippers entering the Church…I was prohibited from entering the Church many times although I’m a local priest.”