Pilgrims: A not so big “Welcome” to Bethlehem, Jericho and Emmaus. 22 January, 2004 ISRAEL - PALESTINE, Jerusalem (AsiaNews)

There are obstacles placed in the way of pilgrims wanting to visit the Holy Land. Over the past few days Israeli border officials have been passing a leaflet in English and Arabic to travelers arriving in Israel and Palestine. Written In large print is a great big “Welcome to the State of Israel”. However the leaflet specifies that “entry into the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority” (i.e. Gaza, Judea and Samaria) “is forbidden”. This means that it is impossible for pilgrims to reach Bethlehem, Jericho, Emmaus and Qumran, traditional destinations for all Christian pilgrims.

A written request is necessary to enter these territories, while waiting for the authorization from the Israeli military government, which promises to respond within 5 working days.

The request itself does not authorize any entry. Only a written response from the military government’s Foreign Relations Office constitutes a valid authorization.

Anyone daring to enter these territories without authorization risks serious sanctions: “legal measures” and even “deportation and refusal of future re-entry into the State of Israel”.

Special instructions are given for those requesting entry into the Gaza Strip. The request must be submitted directly to the Foreign Relations Office, located in the “Erez” crossing, recently the stage of a suicide attack.

To make further inquiries, the leaflet gives the Office’s telephone numbers: 08-674-1556; fax: 08-689-2613).

Below we attach the original text of the “Information” leaflet:

Welcome to the State of Israel

Information on entry into territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority

1. We would like to bring to your attention, that entry into the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority, in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria (Area A), is forbidden without the attainment of prior written authorization.

2. Entry into the aforementioned territories, without prior authorization, may result in legal measures being taken against you, including deportation and refusal of future re-entry into the State of Israel.

3. Those interested in entering the Gaza Strip via the “Erez” crossing are required to fill out a form requesting entry (into the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority) and to submit it to the Foreign Relations Office in the Coordination & Liaison Administration in the Gaza Strip, situated at “Erez” crossing.

4. Requests will be processed with the utmost effort to authorize them within 5 working days.

5. Additional information can be obtained at the Foreign Relations Office in the Coordination & Liaison Administration in the Gaza Strip reachable by telephone (08-674-1556) or by facsimile (08-689-2613).

6. The submission of a request to authorize entry into the above mentioned areas does not constitute permission to do so, until written authorization has been received.

Christian pilgrims face Israeli restrictions in Holy Land Jerusalem, Jan. 22 (AsiaNews)

Jerusalem, Jan. 22 (AsiaNews) - Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land are encountering obstacles created by Israeli government policies, the AsiaNews service reports.

Foreign visitors entering Israel are now receiving a leaflet notifying them that entry into Palestinian territory is "forbidden" unless they first apply for ande receive authorization from the Israeli foreign office. Without this authorization, pilgrims cannot visit the religious sites of Bethlehem, Jericho, or Emmaus.

Vatican officials have complained that the Israeli restrictions on travel by visitors is a violation of the "fundamental accord" with the Holy See, in which the Israeli government guaranteed free access to all shrines, and cooperation with Christian pilgrimages.

[For a detailed report on the Israeli travel restrictions, see the AsiaNews web site.]