POLICE BREAKS OFF CLASH AT CHURCH OF HOLY SEPULCHRE
Efrat Weiss
Ynetnews
April 20 2008
Israel
Two Armenian worshippers arrested after clashing with Greeks. Tensions
rise in Jerusalem ahead of Holy Saturday festival
Tensions are rising in the Old City: A clash broke out Sunday between
Greek-Orthodox and Armenian worshippers at the Church of Holy Sepulchre
in Jerusalem, during the closing of the Christian Palm Sunday. Police
officers present at the scene separated between them. None of the 20
people present were injured.
Two Armenian worshippers were held up by the police and taken in for
questioning, after which they were released. At the end of the prayer
service, a few dozen worshippers arrived near the David Police Precinct
station in the Old City to protest against their friends’ arrest.
No riots were reported at the scene.Police forces were deployed so as
to prevent further incidents of violence. The demonstration dispersed
as soon as the detainees were released.
Police forces are vigilant in preparation for the Holy Saturday
festival observed by the Christians every year after Easter. The
ceremony, has been known to cause tensions between the Greeks and
Armenians for years, and the same is expected this year, especially
in light of Sunday’s incident.
Head of operations at the National Police Headquarters, Major General
Yoram Ochayon, told Ynet that the Jerusalem police are preparing for
Holy Saturday, during which 20,000 people are expected to visit the
Church of Holy Sepulchre.
During the ceremony a flame is lit by a sun beam penetrating the
narrow aperture in the church’s ceiling. In recent years, the service
has become a Bone of contention between the Christian denominations,
as each one tries to be the first one to have its leader carry the
flame outside the church.
Two years ago, the police deployed 3,000 officers around the church
because of the controversial service. The 2006 event ended without
clashes or injuries, but nine people passed out due to the crowdedness
and required medical attention.