Jerusalem: three religious holidays at the same time, thousands of police deployed

2024-03-24T13:19:29.157Z

Highlights: Jerusalem: three religious holidays at the same time, thousands of police deployed. Holy Week coincides with the Jewish holiday of Purim and the month of Ramadan. A huge police deployment was put in place to avoid friction as much as possible. Tomorrow, in the west part of the city, there will be the Purim costume parade for the first time in 42 years. The bells ring out, but the streets of the old town are almost deserted on this Palm Sunday, RFI's Michel Paul reports.

Start of Holy Week in Jerusalem under high tension. And at the same time, the festival of Purim for the Jews and Ramadan for the Muslims. Thousands of police officers are deployed in the holy city.

Reporting

Jerusalem: three religious holidays at the same time, thousands of police deployed

Start of Holy Week in Jerusalem under high tension. And at the same time, the festival of Purim for the Jews and Ramadan for the Muslims. Thousands of police officers are deployed in the holy city.

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A brother walks on a road, overlooking the Dome of the Rock mosque in the al-Aqsa mosque complex, during the traditional Palm Sunday procession at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, March 24, 2024. AFP - AHMAD GHARABLI

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Jerusalem,

Michel Paul

The bells ring out, but the streets of the old town are almost deserted on this Palm Sunday. With a palm in his hand, Armand, a Beninese pilgrim, walks the Via Dolorosa in

Jerusalem

“

We pray that the war can end soon

,” he confided, “

so that the two parties in conflict can still find common ground. Because war benefits no one. These are people who are dying. And we, truly, pray that this day will be an open day so that the neighborhoods can find peace.

Also read: Antonio Guterres in Rafah: “Silencing the guns” in the Gaza Strip

No festive atmosphere

This year, Holy Week coincides with the Jewish holiday of Purim and the

month of Ramadan

against the backdrop of the

war in Gaza.

A huge police deployment was put in place to avoid friction as much as possible. “

I'm sure there will be a clash between Christians and Muslims since the Muslim religion is tied to politics,”

said Juliette, a Christian from east Jerusalem.

And above all, with this war, this year I don't know how it will go. It's worrying.

Many businesses remain closed this year. Brother Raphael deplores the absence of a festive atmosphere: “

Today, it is a message of peace to the world, especially to Jerusalem. We want to live as in the past, in tranquility, peace and union among all, Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Tomorrow, in the west part of the city, there will be the Purim costume parade for the first time in 42 years.

Jerusalem: three religious holidays at the same time, thousands of police deployed

Jerusalem: three religious holidays at the same time, thousands of police deployed

No festive atmosphere

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