Pilgrims Stay Away From Jerusalem on 'Tense' Good Friday

Christian pilgrims carry a wooden cross on the Good Friday procession through the streets of the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem - AFP
Christian pilgrims carry a wooden cross on the Good Friday procession through the streets of the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem - AFP
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Pilgrims Stay Away From Jerusalem on 'Tense' Good Friday

Christian pilgrims carry a wooden cross on the Good Friday procession through the streets of the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem - AFP
Christian pilgrims carry a wooden cross on the Good Friday procession through the streets of the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem - AFP

The war in Gaza hung heavy over Good Friday in Jerusalem with fewer Christian pilgrims walking the path through the walled Old City that they believe Christ took to his crucifixion.

Security was heavy in the narrow alleyways where thousands of Palestinians observing the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan flocked to Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, also in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

"It is deeply touching to be here on Good Friday. There is a deep sadness you can feel in the air, which is probably heightened by what is happening (in Gaza)," said Australian John Timmons, who noted he had thought twice about coming.

Less than 200 metres (yards) away at Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site, the faithful were also called on to ponder suffering, this time of those under bombardment in Gaza.

"God be with our people in Gaza," the imam said as an Islamic prayer for the dead was recited.

As the preacher's words echoed through the narrow streets on a loudspeaker, Italian Catholic Mario Tioti, 64, said Jerusalem's holiness cut through all the tensions and politics.

Roman Catholics and Protestants were marking Holy Week this week. For the Orthodox churches, Good Friday does not come until May 3.

For some Palestinians headed to Al-Aqsa mosque, getting there had been its own Via Dolorosa.

Linda Al-Khatib said heavy Israeli security had turned what is normally a five-minute journey from her village just outside Jerusalem into a 45-minute ordeal of checks and barriers.

"I came to pray because it is a very special day, especially in Ramadan. But I am very sad, there are not many visitors and there are no people. All the way on the road I was afraid," she said.

An Indian-born nun living in Bethlehem for the last 13 years told AFP that it has never been so "tense" or difficult to enter east Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank at Easter.

But for some, the war keeping tourists away was a gift from on high.



Hezbollah Chief Says Israel Must Fully Withdraw from Lebanon by February 18

 A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Hamam shows smoke rising after an explosion during an Israeli army operation in the village of Kfar Shouba near the border on February 16, 2024. (AFP)
A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Hamam shows smoke rising after an explosion during an Israeli army operation in the village of Kfar Shouba near the border on February 16, 2024. (AFP)
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Hezbollah Chief Says Israel Must Fully Withdraw from Lebanon by February 18

 A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Hamam shows smoke rising after an explosion during an Israeli army operation in the village of Kfar Shouba near the border on February 16, 2024. (AFP)
A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Hamam shows smoke rising after an explosion during an Israeli army operation in the village of Kfar Shouba near the border on February 16, 2024. (AFP)

The head of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Sunday that Israeli troops must withdraw from Lebanese territory in full by a February 18 deadline, saying it had "no pretext" to maintain a military presence in any post in southern Lebanon.

Under a truce brokered by Washington in November, Israeli troops were granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon where they had waged a ground offensive against fighters from Iran-backed Hezbollah since early October.

That deadline was later extended to February 18, but Israel's military requested that it keep troops in five posts in southern Lebanon, sources told Reuters last week.

In a recorded televised speech, Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem said: "Israel must withdraw completely on Feb. 18, it has no pretext, no five points or other details... this is the agreement."

Qassem said any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after February 18 would be considered an occupying force.

"Everyone knows how an occupation is dealt with," Qassem said, without explicitly threatening that his group would resume attacks against Israel.

Israel's public broadcaster said on Wednesday the US had authorized a "long term" Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.

During the broadcast of Qassem's speech, at least three Israeli air strikes hit Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley. Israel's military said it conducted strikes after identifying Hezbollah activity at sites containing rocket launchers and other weapons.

Qassem also called on the Lebanese government to reconsider its ban on Iranian flights landing in Beirut.

Lebanese authorities banned the flights from landing until February 18 following Israeli accusations that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm Hezbollah.

The decision stranded dozens of Lebanese nationals in Iran, where they had been on a religious pilgrimage with plans to return via Iran's Mahan Air. Lebanon sent two of its own planes to retrieve them, but Iran barred them from landing in Tehran.

Hezbollah organized a protest outside Beirut airport on Saturday, where its supporters were tear gassed by Lebanese troops.

Qassem described Lebanon's ban on Iranian planes as "the implementation of an Israeli order".

"Let the plane land and we will see what Israel will do," he said.