For the first time in centuries, the Catholic mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem commemorating Palm Sunday, was stopped as a result of security concerns. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and launches the Holy Week commemorations for Christians which culminates in Easter.
Pope Leo XIV, at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prayed for all Christians in the Middle East who he said were living through an “atrocious” conflict. He said that “in many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days.” (source)
Luke 19: 28-40 The Entry into Jerusalem.
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples.
He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.'”
So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.”
So, they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount.
As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen.
They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
Donald Trump praised Ahmed al-Sharaa ‘young, attractive’ ex-terrorist throat cutter now the self appointed head of Syria
Israel recently bombed Syria to protect the Druze.
Israel intervened militarily, citing its responsibility to protect the Druze population in Syria, a minority it considers a potential ally
Israeli military launched multiple airstrikes hitting central Damascus, including the Ministry of Defence headquarters and areas near the presidential palace, saying it is warning against attacks on Druze.
Will Israel bomb Syria to protect Christians?
See what Bibi’s friend Michael Orens said about Al-Qaeda vs Assad in Syria. I watched a Travel channel show on secular Syria before the formation of the Iran Syria Policy & Operations group started their terrorist support work there, and it had the diversity these wankers claim to worship, was peaceful, and beautiful.. It was part of the Shia Crescent so it was on the Clean break hitlist, even though the Assad family had long protected not only its large Christian communities of various denominations, but other groups as well. It was obvious Dr Assad was secular by his western business suits he wore.
‘Israel wanted Assad gone since start of Syria civil war’
https://www.jpost.com/syria-crisis/oren-jerusalem-has-wanted-assad-ousted-since-the-outbreak-of-the-syrian-civil-war-326328
Thank you Colkitto.
The Israelis didn’t block worship. They blocked politics. Scummy Left-wing politics, trying to undermine the Israeli and American war efforts. The guy has the theology of a No Kings protest sign.
Trying to keep Iranians as slaves to the Mullahs, Gaza under Hamas and Lebanon under Hezbollah.
The Israelis decided they were too busy to babysit an enemy sympathizer in wartime and I don’t blame them one bit.
The Catholic Hierarchy should repent for sending this anti-Civilizational Commie with a Collar using Jesus to support tyranny and terror.
Do what you’ve got to do, my brothers. Carry on.
Exodus 15:3
3 The Lord is a man of war; Yahweh is his name.
Hallelujah!
Rest in the Vine: They’re Not Sending Their Best to the Holy Land
Whoa. Somebody has a bad case of Catholic Derangement Syndrome…
Hardly.
The guy was wearing a keffiyeh and called my troops murderers. The Catholic Derangement is his.
This is what I regard as actual Catholicism:
“… The Revolution, the satanic matrix of this rebellious world hostile to the Incarnate Word, knows well that changing words also changes their meaning. This is why the lie of the ancient Serpent uses false and deceptive language. This is why the servants of the Evil One hide their deceptions behind words that are only apparently harmless. It is the Orwellian newspeak that renames the horrendous crime of abortion as reproductive health, mutilation as gender transition, vice and transgression as freedom, the destruction of Creation as green deal, the extermination of humanity as net zero, and ethnic replacement as inclusion.
And if up until a few decades ago Holy Mother Church knew how to oppose this subversion by repeating unchanged the eternal and true Word of God and using the language proper to Faith and Morals, today a corrupt Hierarchy shows its betrayal in the same way, manipulating language, thus annulling the word of God (Mk 7:12). It renames the destruction of the divine constitution of the Church and the manipulation of the Papacy as synodality, the renunciation of the need for evangelization and conversion as ecumenical dialogue, redefines the poor as the real presence, and the legitimization of sin as acceptance.
The Word of God is the word of Truth. It does not limit itself to echoing in eternity, but becomes flesh and food, immolates itself on the Cross so that the Word proclaims the glory of the Father, redeems us from Satan’s lie and preserves us on this earthly journey from the falsehood and deception of the world, the flesh, and the devil. …
Let us therefore call things by their name: let us refer to virtue as virtue and vice as vice; mindful of the admonition of Sacred Scripture: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who change darkness into light and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter (Is 5:20). Let your speech, therefore, be Yes, yes, no, no: all the rest comes from the Evil One (Mt 5:37). And so may it be.”
And this:
“The “mass deportation” of illegal immigrants is a decision that the State can legitimately take, and this is a principle dictated by Natural Law even before positive civil law or canon law.
Conversely, the “mass deportation” of illegal immigrants is certainly and indisputably incompatible with the network of pseudo-charitable organizations in the hands of the Bergoglian hierarchy, the Democratic Party and the NGOs attributable to George Soros, and with the system of complicity between the deep state and the deep church, both of which are actively engaged in the dissolution of the social, economic, cultural, and religious fabric of the nations in which they have taken control of the institutions. Stopping illegal immigration would make them lose an inexhaustible source of profit, paid for by citizens’ taxes.
The “mass deportation” of illegal immigrants is certainly and unquestionably incompatible with the subversive plan of ethnic substitution shared by the globalist elite, because it thwarts it and prevents the creation of the premises for social revolt that are intended lead to a further restriction of fundamental freedoms.
When we hear representatives of the deep church (i.e. the Bergoglian “church”) or the deep state speak, we ought to realize that these people are emissaries of the subversive globalist lobby, and that every word they say is false, because behind an apparently acceptable excuse they actually hide unmentionable criminal purposes. …”
Rest in the Vine: “Corrupt Clergy Use Satanic Deception to Annul the Word of God” by Archbishop Viganò
Thank you for a very well-written acknowledgment regarding the perversion of language in our time.
The Evil One, Satan, hates The Word, Our Lord Jesus Christ. What other way to destroy souls than to destroy language.
Archbishop Vigano. Is like John the Baptist, a lone voice crying in the wilderness for man to Repent. God bless him.
Thanks Gipper.
This man should have been Pope two popes ago. I regard him a living Saint.
Scio cui credidi….Viganò
You are right, Gipper. No one can stop the worship of Jesus the Lord, Messiah, Holy One of Israel.
John 4:20-23 and an “unworthy” woman speaking to Jesus —
“”Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.””
LIE! This was a police Officer that will be likely fired. Stop crating hate. This is not the government and everyone in Israel is pissed off at it. There is a no gathering rule because of the war but this was very wrong. Apologies in my name and everyone that I know including the Govenment who will surely take the actions against such things.
PM Netanyahu: “I have instructed the relevant authorities that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch, be granted full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Over the past several days, Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles. In one strike, missile fragments crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
To protect worshippers, Israel asked members of all faiths to temporarily abstain from worshipping at the Christian, Muslim and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Today, out of special concern for his safety, Cardinal Pizzaballa was asked to refrain from holding mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.”
https://news-pravda.com/img/20260329/e676b7c9717f46d8235a92f88b3fa215_480x480.avif
Thank you for posting the truth.
Translation: “As soon as we realized that we couldn’t contain the mass outrage through the usual tricks, we caved to contain the damage.”
Very true excellent of all the religions in the world the Jews hate Roman Catholics and Russian orthodox the most.
and yet you culturally appropriate and profane the sanctuary of the holy Jewish name, Mari .
There are plenty of pagan Saxon names for you, try Beatrix
this
The Holy Kouvouklion
This is built over the Cave of the Holy Sepulchre.
Church of the All-Holy Resurrection or Anastasis
Jerusalem
The Holy Land
I am a saved follower of the resurrected Jesus Christ. I am not Roman Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Mormon, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox, Baptist, Lutheran or Episcopalian. Nor am I a Jew.
The following is right out of the pages of the Authorized Version of the King James Bible that contains both testaments, complete and unedited since coming off the press in 1611 A.D. It was translated to English from the Textus Receptus which was the acknowledged manuscript of Scriptural authority and accuracy.
St John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.
Matthew 28:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
28:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the sepulcher and departed.
This account is also described in the writings of St. Mark and St. Luke. These are the memories accurately describing what happened to the murdered body of a particular Jewish man. And then a Jewish man taking him down from the cross and burying him in a tomb meant for himself and done in the fashion of Jewish burial tradition.
The term ‘Christian’ appears but once in all of the New Testament and can be read in Acts 11:26 …………….And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
The term ‘Easter’ occurs once in the New Testament. Herod the king intended to kill Peter during the Passover days of unleavened bread, but did not want to kill him during his own pagan celebration.
Acts 12:4……..;intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
There is no inherent property right to the tomb where Jesus lay for three days and three nights solely for purposes of religious confiscation. It was purchased by a Jew. A Jew used it to bury a Jew. It seems reasonable to assume that it was probably stolen from a Jew.
“Textus Receptus” refers more to marketing than scholarship. Not a highly respected version, by any means.
Plus, what’s important here is sacred tradition.
Dear Lepanto,
The Textus Receptus precedes the later collections that were successful in rearranging the Jewish texts from the original authors. All of the original writers of the sacred scriptures were Jews. Jesus Christ was very clear in his use of the Old Testament, quoting it as he ministered. The New Testament collection of writers were alive during the life of Jesus, with the exception of Paul, given his commission by the glorified Jesus Christ, who knocked him to the ground and blinded him.
There are 66 books in the complete and original texts, ending with the Book of Revelation which was committed to the hand of the Jew St. John from the mouth of Jesus Christ with the permission of God.
Every word of the original transmission from God to man was written by a Jew in the language of the time.
There was nothing to market. No one was intent on sales. The writers were instructed by God to make an historical account as he directed them.
Prior to its English version being printed, the original manuscript texts translated from the Textus Receptus were available in other languages.
Thank you for allowing me to refresh my biblical understanding. It is very gratifying.
These are miraculous times in which we live!
Denise, who authorized the King James version?
King James Version is a Protestant Bible Created in early 1600s 1600 years after Jesus died and Christianity began .
Dear Tereesee as,
What a marvelous question! For years I, too, was so curious about that word. I thought it was authorized by King James. He was the one, after all, that commissioned the many authorities of impeccable repute to translate, line by line and painstakingly, the original manuscripts contained in the Textus Receptus. He was, however, but a man with a man’s iniquities.
{If you can obtain a copy with the original dedication at the front of the bible, it is a moving and beautifully composed and spirit-filled prayer of gratitude by the translators themselves.}
I came to the understanding by a sincere study of and belief in the truth therein, printed on each page, that the authorization came from the ONE who caused the world to be formed, the seas to bring forth life, the glory of salvation through faith in his only begotten son, also known as THE WORD.
As we approach the time commemorating his resurrection, the words and works of Jesus Christ are still with us. Alleluia!!
But Roman Catholics starting with St Helena built the structure above and around the tomb of Jesus.
Dear Mari,
I was considering this topic and wondered: What if the sepulcher still is the rightful property of the family of Joseph of Aramathaea? After all, he paid for it and was planning on being interred there himself. Was it confiscated from the family? It belonged to a Jew. Now it belongs to a religious organization.
Another idea has intrigued me. What is it about an empty tomb that is so sacred? And a cross which was the tool of great torture? Jesus Christ was excruciatingly executed on a cross which is noted in the bible as a curse to the one being hanged there. It is not the cross that is sacred. It is the man who is no longer hanging there. The tomb is not the sacred object. Jesus is no longer there. Once he left the sepulcher, he did not return to it. Nor did he instruct anyone to make it a sacred object of worship.
Thank you so much for allowing me to express these thoughts. Happy Resurrection Day!!!
While the subject is fresh, I am finding humor in the fact that the only person hanging around a tomb in the New Testament, was the ‘Maniac of Gadara’ as found in Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-17 and Luke 8:26-37.
Matthew tells of two possessed with devils while Mark and Luke describe a man totally insane with a collection of evil spirits calling themselves Legion. Jesus forced them out of the men and they were given permission to invade a herd of swine that threw themselves into the sea and drowned. Jesus was asked forthwith to leave by the unfortunate owners of the hogs.
Tombs are not places of worship. They are places of death and corruption. Except for the savior, who left the tomb uncorrupted and alive in body, soul and spirit.
Glorious Resurrection Day!
Sundance, don’t fall for the BS about this. This was an antisemitic influencer op planned by the Vatican. Due to Iranian rocket attacks and the unavailability of shelters in Old Jerusalem, right now no Jews are praying at the Wailing Wall, no Moslems are worshipping in the Dome of the Rock mosque, and no Christians are holding services in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, for reasons of safety. Cardinal Pizzaballa knew that and had been advised of it days ago. But he showed up anyway, WEARING A KEFFIYAH which is not part of his Catholic vestments. And virtually every post online exclaiming about the incident he deliberately created used virtually the same language: “The first time in centuries” etc. This had Soros-like fingerprints all over it. And the Pope was in on it — he displayed his advanced case of TDS and anti-Americanism by announcing, contrary to Scripture, that God does not hear the prayer of those who make war. Fortunately God decides what prayers He hears, not Robert Prevost. The people running the Vatican are infected with antisemitism – that’s what this was. It is a cause of sorrow for all true Christians. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” II Timothy 4:2-4.
David, with all respect,
“for reasons of safety” sounds too familiar…and more of the Soros-like fingerprints, no?
It’s incredible that people still believe the government BS about “reasons for safety” after living through COVID dystopia. It wasn’t about “safety” then, and it isn’t about “safety” now.
Standard Protestant Jewish diatribe against the original largest and still most powerful Christian denomination. The Church of Rome Catholic Church. I doubt you’re a Christian at all.
Following or being part of a church doesn’t make anyone a Christian.
Ever.
It is in following the Lord, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, and making HIM LORD of every teeny tiny piece of who you are, what you say and what you do — to the point of being HIS slave — that is what makes a Christian.
What are the words we long to hear upon entering into eternity?
Well done, good and faithful SERVANT.
Your church does not make you a Christian. If you go to a Catholic church your affiliation makes you a Catholic.
Or you could be a Lutheran, Baptist, Covenanter, etc., but a church NEVER EVER makes anyone a Christian.
Thank you.
Israel is being attacked.
Israel is at war.
I am so tired of this created antisemitism.
Israeli police said that all holy sites in Jerusalem have been closed since the start of the war in Iran.
This particular church had a missle shell land on its roof.
There goes lots of support for Franciscans wearing a keffiyah! Thanks for that info.
O.K. … soooooooooo WHY ???
I’ve seen the disclaimers such as: “Israeli Police said they denied Pizzaballa’s request, citing the potential of a “mass casualty incident” and the inability of emergency rescue assets to access the area ….
BULL. We’re talkin’ about 4 representatives of the Catholic Church … NOT “any gatherings of 50 people or less” according to Israeli Home Front Command Guidelines. Many other churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or less. NO PROBLEM-O …
I want a “real” answer … please.
p.s. and I’m not Catholic.
I am grateful that we don’t need a holy site or shrine to worship our Lord and Savior today. It was never necessary to begin with because the Holy Spirit lives within us. God Bless all today and during this holy week.
This is true; and a good reminder. It is not the external place but the internal place (our thoughts, words, deeds, hearts) where the true worship resides.
Still; someone has a tin ear who runs the Israeli government’s inter-faith public relations desk.
The same Chuck Schumer who helps fund Hamas terrorists, here tries and block UK agent provocateur Khalil Mahmoud from being deported as PDJT rightfully has been trying to do. Why would Schumer do this? Is this like AIPAC funding supposed “Anti-Israel” & “Anti-Jewish” Democrat Congressional theater stage props? You would think Jewish/Israel leadership would be wanting to Eichman him, yet nothing. I would think Bibi would be wanting to do to him what was done to German American Bund members by Jewish Americans back before WWII.
Chuck Schumer labeled ‘traitor’ after damning report reveals he quietly advised Columbia leaders to ignore criticism of campus antisemitism
https://nypost.com/2024/10/31/us-news/chuck-schumer-labeled-traitor-after-damning-report-reveals-he-quietly-advised-columbia-leaders-to-ignore-criticism-of-campus-antisemitism/
The Muslim Brotherhood agent traded in her first handler for a new one.
They are married now.
Alex Soros married Huma Abedin on June 10, 2025.
Eye roll.
This is as good as any place, to post this, from the Babylon Bee….out of a favorite place, Ames, IA….
https://babylonbee.com/news/aidan-getting-excited-for-annual-chance-to-whack-sister-with-palm-branch
Bless me Father for I have sin…..
She just can’t bring herself to blame the dems for anything. It is always Trumps fault. These idiots are jut that-idiots.
The title of this ….sounds derogatory and is misleading in my option. “ Unfortunately, the Israeli Government Blocked…. Immediately conjured up a sense of something unseemly.
when you read the article, it becomes clear the action was taken because of a probable threat. Nothing more. The government took a responsible approach and shut down the possibility of harm.
Language, innuendo and how we perceive information is paramount during these turbulent times.
The exact same excuse was made during the COVID lockdowns, e.g. “The government took a responsible approach and shut down the possibility of harm.” I didn’t buy it then, and don’t buy it now.
I’m still wondering when and where the story I was told as a child about Jesus riding on donkey was changed into him riding on a colt?
The word colt can also refer to a young male donkey 😊
Canadian Liberals Pass ‘Anti-Christian’ Bill That Would CRIMINALIZE Quoting Parts of the Bible in Public
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/canadian-liberals-pass-anti-christian-bill-that-would/
Horrifyng.
The UK and the EU are also denigrating Christinaity and pumping up Islam.
They wil regret that.
Jesus told us these days were coming.
Hallelujah, His return draws closer with each passing day.
Texas Man Lashes Out in Stabbing Attack After Hearing Bible Conversation
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/texas-man-lashes-stabbing-attack-hearing-bible-conversation/
Bibi has such a hammerlock on America, such absolute control over America’s military, presidency, Congress, academia, press, conservative denominations, etc. , that he realizes that Israel no longer has any need to pretend not to be viciously anti-Christian. So they are no longer pretending.
They closed this church for 2 months when covid hit to keep people safe so why is closing it when it is a target for Iran to bomb a big thing?
The Cardinal pushing the protest is very anti Israel. And the tweetstorm on x all say the same thing. Astroturf?
Fortunately, Christianity doesn’t require holy places or artifacts. Yes, there is history there and some sentimental value, but when the Holy Spirit resides inside you, you have everything you need and nothing and nobody can take it away from you.
Amen and very much, OnPoint.
Your ant I semitism is showing.
It’s quite a following of “it’s da jooos” you are accumulating here, Sundance..
Meaning that it would seem to be their entire reason for existing here / posting.
Is this intentional on your part?
Passover is being celebrated in underground shelters because the Islamic jihadists are bombing Israel. The solution is to destroy the jihadists, not reflexively blame the Jews.
It’s Noon In Israel
Operation Roaring Lion Day 31: Israel Offers to Replace Qatar
Also, the Knesset passes its first election-year budget in decades, fake drama at the Holy Sepulchre, and more.
Amit Segal
Mar 30, 2026
U.S. aircraft lined up on Shaikh Isa airfield, Bahrain, 1991.It’s Monday, March 30, and the thirty-first day of Operation Roaring Lion. The global price of oil has reached $115, up two percent since yesterday. Here are the latest developments while you were asleep:
Now, on to the details.
Google satellite view of Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, 2019. (Google)Israel has invited the United States to relocate some of its regional bases from countries such as Qatar to Israel. But that raises a question:
Why is the U.S. regional headquarters in a country that actively sponsors terrorism?
It’s a relatively recent development. For decades, Saudi Arabia served as the U.S.’s regional headquarters. It was from there—not Qatar—that the U.S. assembled forces and ultimately launched the Gulf War to liberate Kuwait. After 9/11 and the Iraq War, the U.S. sought a host with fewer political constraints and a location that would recruit fewer jihadists by being farther from Islam’s two holiest sites. Qatar fit the bill: no political complications, billions of dollars in subsidies, and the ready-to-use Al Udeid Air Base.
Now, more than twenty years later, Israel is positioning itself as the U.S.’s new home away from home. The Israeli security establishment sees an opportunity to “reshape the map” of U.S. military positioning in the Middle East.
There are several advantages to this move. For one, Israel has the strongest air defense in the region. The New York Times reported Thursday that missile attacks on Qatar have forced “many American troops to relocate to hotels and office spaces throughout the region,” with much of the land-based military “fighting the war while working remotely, with the exception of fighter pilots and crews operating and maintaining warplanes and conducting strikes.” Meanwhile, IDF forces haven’t missed a day of work.
Another advantage is the close alliance between the U.S. and Israel. They’ve been conducting joint operations, gone on foreign trips together, and built a relationship where coordination is seamless. Isn’t it time to move in together? After all, the U.S. and Israel share strategic goals in the region, and operating from Israel means the U.S. doesn’t risk hitting targets that would be rebuilt by the same country they launched from.
Qatar has not always been a cooperative host. In April 2025, Qatar (along with Saudi Arabia and the UAE) would not allow American warplanes to use Gulf bases or airspace to strike Iran. Earlier this year, a prominent Qatari royal called the U.S. “merely a tenant of a military base in Qatar” and warned, “do not act as if you are doing us a favor.” While this may have been largely rhetorical, Qatari sentiments have grown more ingratiating since missile strikes began, and it is not a sentiment the U.S. is likely to encounter in Israel.
But there are a few disadvantages as well, the most prominent being geographical. Israel is roughly 1,000 miles west of Qatar. Sure, that means fewer missiles can reach it, but it is more useful for the U.S. if they want to fly over Beirut—less so for strikes on Tehran.
Qatar also subsidizes the upkeep of its base to the tune of billions of dollars. Israel’s defense budget hit record highs this year, but an extra few billion is still significant for a country without endless oil wealth.
Regional allies are unlikely to be thrilled either. Some, like Turkey, would be opposed out of that early-2000s distaste for Israel, while others—Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—may object simply because it means American help is now farther away.
The U.S. and Israel are currently negotiating this proposal. U.S. Central Command is unlikely to fully relocate from Qatar, but there could very well be a new U.S. base established. As U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig famously said, Israel is “the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk”—and the U.S. may finally be looking to put that to use.
A vote on the state budget at the auditorium in the Knesset last night. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)Overnight the Knesset successfully passed the largest state budget in Israel’s history. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the NIS 850.6 billion ($271 billion) spending bill “a budget that takes care of everyone and fights the cost of living,” while opposition leader Yair Lapid called it “the greatest theft in the history of the state.” Whether Lapid is correct or not, this budget is historic.
For the first time in his nearly 20 years as Prime Minister, Netanyahu has successfully passed a budget in an election year—a milestone that secures the government against collapse through the end of its term. In his six previous terms, for one reason or another, he never reached this point. Even if the ultra-Orthodox were to bring down the coalition in the next legislative session, the earliest elections could be held would be September—just one month short of the government’s full term. This makes the 25th Knesset the longest-serving government Israel has had since 1969. That’s right: more than 50 years. Israeli politics has a long-standing tradition of chaos and self-destruction.
Yet history doesn’t come cheap. At the last moment, the coalition approved amendments allocating approximately NIS 800 million ($255 million) to Haredi programs and institutions. This was compensation for the ultra-Orthodox parties’ support, as they voted in favor of the budget despite the coalition not enacting the blanket exemptions from military conscription for yeshiva students that they had demanded.
According to Channel 13, the budget increased allocations to Haredi educational institutions by more than NIS 1 billion ($318 million). But the Haredim weren’t the biggest beneficiaries of the night—the defense budget received a NIS 32 billion ($10 billion) raise, bringing it to NIS 142 billion ($45 billion). That’s almost double the 2022 allocation.
Last night was also historic in that, for the first time, nearly the entire Knesset had to vote from protected spaces as Jerusalem came under fire. I’m not sure what Iran was planning on preventing the IDF from being funded, but firing missiles isn’t exactly the way to convince a country to cut its defense spending.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives to the annual Christmas Eve procession in the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, 2025. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)Yesterday, police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from praying at the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday. Has Tucker Carlson’s fantasies finally become a reality? Has Israel finally started persecuting Christians?
Not quite.
I have a rule: whenever a minister is involved, the situation falls into one of two categories—House of Cards or SNL. This was SNL. Simply put, the police in the Old City didn’t fully understand the sensitivity of the issue and were following Home Front Command directives to prevent large gatherings. Before the situation could be clarified, the story went viral, and everyone started offering their takes—some claiming Israel was persecuting Christians, others, if Israeli, blaming the current government.
The whole issue was resolved within a day. This morning, police announced that limited numbers would be allowed into the Holy Sepulchre. For context, Home Front Command directives also currently prevent prayers on the Temple Mount or at the Western Wall, and neither has caused an international incident.
So, basically THE COMMIES are winning.
https://allisraelnews.com/after-global-outrage-israel-catholic-leaders-reach-compromise-to-allow-limited-prayer-at-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre-in-jerusalem
Shocker. Israel Zionists hate Christians.
F*ck Israel
Here is what actually happened.
In one sentence: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa wanted preferential treatment on Palm Sunday and instead received equal treatment. That’s it. That was the story.
All religious sites in Jerusalem without adequate shelters faced restrictions due to active Iranian ballistic missile threats.
Iranian missile fragments hit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself—on rooftops in the compound—just weeks ago. Narrow Old City streets mean no quick rescue in a mass-casualty strike.
So: Kotel empty (Jews haven’t been able to pray there in weeks), Al-Aqsa restricted (Muslims haven’t been able to pray there in weeks), and Holy Sepulchre blocked for large gatherings. The big Palm Sunday procession was already canceled by the Patriarchate itself days earlier.
Pizzaballa and a small group tried a private entry. They were turned back politely according to the Cardinal himself. Netanyahu clarified it was out of “special concern for his safety,” with no malicious intent, and quickly reversed to grant full access for Holy Week.
Catholics are now getting preferential treatment. Apparently Catholics complaining gets more juice in the Jewish state.
Yet the Cardinal felt aggrieved. So he and his PR team unleashed a wildly divisive and misleading statement calling it a “grave precedent” that “disregards the sensibilities of billions” and a “grossly disproportionate measure.” That language lit the match and went viral before the Iran context or equal-treatment facts could land.
And here’s the intentional misleading part:
This is the same Cardinal who complied with full church closures in Jerusalem for all functions during the entire COVID year. Private or public, it was fine then under health pretexts. But temporary wartime security now—with real rockets hitting the church compound—is suddenly an outrage?
An outrage that deserves a statement he KNEW would case a firestorm? Is that Christlike? I’m Jewish, but that feel very forgiving. I don’t see a single cheek turned there.
He knew he was asking for special treatment. His later walk-back (“misunderstanding,” prayed calmly elsewhere) came after the damage was done.
One of the first accounts I saw promoting the context-free statement on X was the Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan—their White House Correspondent, way out of her lane, reposting it with zero context and journalistic ethics. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence she’s a devout Catholic. She chose to report it as a Catholic, not as a journalist who knows the full context.
Then the pile-on started. Practically the entire Daily Wire roster (past and present)—Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, Jeremy Boering, and the grifters they brought in—joined in. They all failed yesterday’s test (Ben Shapiro and Andrew Klavan didn’t seem to be online).
They weren’t alone. Ambassador Mike Huckabee—a great friend to Israel—didn’t learn from his Taybeh tumble last July, where he rushed to call alleged settler incidents “terror” needing harsh consequences before facts settled that it had NOTHING to do with them. Ted Cruz threw gasoline on the fire too. “Stalwart friends of Israel” sending verbal catapults at the Kotel.
This is what it’s like for Jews and Israel: The world blames you for something someone else (the Cardinal) did and forces an apology, which Israel gave. The Cardinal couldn’t take one holy day of equal treatment, so he blamed the Jews.
Super retro Catholicism.
Israel gives Christians equal status, equal rights, and equal treatment… as it should.
Weird how Syria slaughtering Christians pales in comparison to equal treatment for Christians from Israel. Quite STRANGE how Il Papa seems more aggrieved by Israel lately…
May I remind you that this is the same Cardinal that offered himself in exchange for the Israeli children hostages of Oct. 7th?
I highly doubt he’s some antisemite considering that.
By the way, he spoke out against the Covid restrictions on Mass.
And the Israelis have, to their credit, come to an agreement. I don’t believe they did this out of any desire to restrict Christians, but out of safety. And the restriction was understandable, but if the Cardinal wants to risk his life, then all things considered, since it isn’t involving a large religious gathering, then perhaps he should be allowed?
This was a media induced tempest in a teapot to serve certain groups’ agendas (who are not very pro-Israel, nor pro-the Church, nor pro-America from the looks of it — hmmm, now who could that be? ah, well the Left certainly does fit, doesn’t it?).
Oh David, my heart is breaking right now.
No, this is so very, very wrong.
On 10 Nisan, 32 AD, Yeshua HaMashiach borrowed a young, unridden donkey to ride from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. His followers waved palm branches and placed them on the road, and sang Psalm 118. He cried, rather than celebrating.
The date was exactly 69 weeks of years from the order to rebuild Jerusalem (173,880 days). As Daniel was told by Gabriel, He was about to be executed. That was not why He cried. He cried because of what was going to happen after that.
If you study Torah, every letter there was selected by YHVH. Intentionally. Hebrew is the most amazing language.
Leviticus 16 discusses Yom Kippur. A perfect God had to have a way to deal with sin, and could not ignore it. Yom Kippur allowed the High Priest to seek forgiveness on behalf of YHVH’s chosen people (which included proselytes), and God has always wanted to have mercy on those who love Him.
The example of this is Abraham, in faith preparing to offer Isaac on the top of Moriah, knowing that YHVH had promised an inheritance through Isaac. Abraham knew, absolutely trusted, YHVH would keep that promise, and if it meant raising Isaac from the dead, God would do it. Abraham knew God would provide Himself a lamb. Abraham knew he was acting out a prophecy. YHVH provided a ram that day, not a lamb.
Shortly before Yeshua was born, there was a priest in the temple, for the daily offering (just like Daniel in Daniel 9), Gabriel appeared to him. His name was Zecharias (YHVH has remembered) and his wife was Elizabeth (oath of YHVH). He was told to name the son he was going to have John (grace of God), and that child would, in the spirit of Elijah, prepare the way of the Lord. Later, John would announce about Yeshua (Greek, Jesus) “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
When Daniel was praying in Daniel 9, he was referencing Leviticus 26. God wants to bless us, but He cannot allow us to bring Him into disrepute with others. There are three major punishments listed (servitude, desolation of Jerusalem, desolation of the sanctuary), and they increase in intensities of seven times worse. The math actually seems to work. The first seven arises when the Ark was taken by the Philistines; the second when the Ark and Mercy Seat disappeared during the reign of Manasseh; the third time was under Babylon; the final time was when the Messiah was not recognized while He was present. Moses wrote more about this in the later chapters of Deuteronomy. Yeshua cried, referencing this final period of ‘seven times worse.’ He knew the future, loved the people, but God has to allow free will.
God’s merciful plan was for the Holy Messiah to take my place and be killed for my sin, and to rise from the dead. Like the bronze serpent, He was lifted up at the top of Moriah on a cross, cursed by YHVH on my behalf, for sins He never committed. The Mercy Seat disappeared centuries earlier, and the just could only live by faith until a holy sacrifice was offered. Zechariah 6 writes of a silver and gold crown. Yeshua did not receive that crown yet. He has returned to His place (Hosea 5:15), but will return again to take His place as King of Israel (His mother was a virgin descendant of Nathan’s house, His adoptive father from Solomon’s house).
Those of us who truly accept Jesus as the Messiah of Israel are indwelled with the Holy Spirit of God (a gift, totally undeserved – and we are not perfect). We are to reflect God’s love on earth, and to show His love to others. The church, according to the New Testament (additional scripture also written by God’s inspiration) are those people who have the Holy Spirit living in them (Leviticus 26’s final ‘seven times worse’ of the desolation of the sanctuary was mercifully bypassed for those with faith in the God of Abraham).
On 10 Nisan, 32 AD, my King and my High Priest rode into Jerusalem to show His love to first the Jewish people to whom He was related, and also to the rest of the world. He died on a Roman cross, willingly, because of His intense love for His Father and for us. It breaks my heart that people claiming to follow Him are not following His example, but rather contributing to discord.
I hope you have a blessed Pesach. Thank you for your updates.