Eu Day Light

Israeli President Isaac Herzog made a statement regarding the inability of Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre due to the security situation.

Herzog said: "In the incident, Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land, the Reverend Father Francesco Ielpo, were unable to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pray due to the ongoing security situation."

Emphasizing that the incident stemmed from security concerns, Herzog said: "I explained that it arose from security concerns resulting from the ongoing threat of missile attacks by the Iranian terror regime against civilian populations in Israel, and that these concerns have increased following incidents such as Iranian missiles falling in the Old City of Jerusalem in recent days."

Highlighting Israel’s stance on freedom of religion, President Herzog stated: "I reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the State of Israel to freedom of religion for all faiths and to maintaining the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem."