The Spanish Prime-Minister Pedro Sanchez is not exactly known for his Catholic zeal and devotion, but rather for an agenda largely hostile to the traditional values preserved by the Church. In turn, the Jerusalem authorities are known for managing to bring together devotees and celebrations of all Abrahamic religions in the city.

However, this Sunday – mindful of the security restrictions that Israeli authorities imposed on Christians, Jews, and Muslims, given the situation of the war with Iran – Sanchez showed himself to be more Catholic than the Pope himself.

The facts:

Sánchez expressed deep concern today regarding reports that Israeli authorities blocked Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Sánchez condemned the restriction as an "unjustified attack on Religious Freedom" and a violation of international law.

Israeli authorities, including the President Isaac Herzog, the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Police leadership, have stated that the restrictions were strictly for safety and security of Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Kotel (Western Wall) itself is and will be closed during the 9-day Jewish Passover.

Specific reasons for these measures:

1) Under current Home Front Command guidelines related to the ongoing war with Iran, large gatherings are restricted across Israel to protect civilians from potential missile attacks.

2) Government statements highlighted that the Old City has been targeted by multiple missile launches in recent weeks, necessitating a temporary closure of all major holy sites—including those for Jews and Muslims—to safeguard worshippers.

3) The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other ancient sites in the Old City lack "standard protected spaces" (bomb shelters), making them high-risk areas during aerial threats.

4) The Israel Police explained that the narrow, complex layout of the Old City prevents large emergency and rescue vehicles from accessing the area quickly in the event of a mass-casualty incident.

Religious Freedom, the Portuguese example:

The freedom of religion protects not just individuals, but the right of religious groups to organize, manage their own affairs and to qualify its members as believers of that affiliation or not, without interference from the government or any other public or private entities. Yet, in 2022 the Portuguese socialist government of António Costa, probably Sanchez's best friend, did something unique in modern history: the strongest Jewish community in the country was literally declared toxic, the community's leadership was attacked as if it were an enemy of the homeland, its leading figures—starting with Dreyfus's granddaughter—were deemed by the government to be not good Jews, and finally, the organization's cultural knowledge was completely disregarded and even mocked. The government - and its press - was dissatisfied with how the community was organized, with the people who managed it, and with its Jewish beliefs. It wanted a Jewish community to its liking, not full synagogues, nor museums inaugurated in two months, nor multimillionaires who could help the country in matters of energy, economy, and international diplomacy. "Jewish belief" and community values had to be defined by the government.

Israel and Freedom of Religion

Freedom of religion is not violated when a state closes off an area of the city, as well as all areas of its territory, where missiles are falling and there are no security bunkers or access for ambulances. The violation of freedom of religion would have occurred if the State of Israel, its press, and its police had used anonymous letters to accuse the patriarch of not being a worthy leader of that faith, or to accuse the faithful who wanted to pray of not being Christians.