标签： Europe

In a significant reversal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has granted the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem “full and immediate access” to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre following widespread condemnation of the initial decision to bar the cardinal from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Christianity’s most sacred site.

The controversy erupted when Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and Reverend Francesco Ielpo from entering the church to conduct a private ceremony marking the beginning of Holy Week. Church authorities described this as an unprecedented event, noting it was “the first time in centuries” a Latin Patriarch had been denied access on Palm Sunday.

Israeli officials defended the initial restriction as a security precaution amid ongoing regional tensions. Netanyahu stated that Iranian ballistic missiles had “repeatedly targeted” Jerusalem’s holy sites in recent days, with missile fragments landing mere meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in one instance. The Prime Minister emphasized that police acted out of “special safety concerns” rather than “malicious intent.”

The decision provoked strong international criticism. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee characterized the move as an “unfortunate overreach” that was “difficult to understand or justify.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned it as “an offence against every community that recognises religious freedom,” while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about “the worrying increase in violations of the status of the Holy Places in Jerusalem.”

The Latin Patriarchate issued a statement calling the decision “a grave precedent” that disregarded “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world.” Cardinal Pizzaballa described the measure as “an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo,” while noting his office had followed all imposed restrictions since the conflict began.

Following Netanyahu’s intervention, Israeli authorities are now developing a plan to facilitate worship at the site during Holy Week while maintaining security protocols. The incident has highlighted the complex balance between security concerns and religious freedom in Jerusalem’s contested holy sites.

In a meticulously executed operation, armed thieves have stolen three invaluable paintings from the Magnani Rocca Foundation near Parma, Italy, marking one of the country’s most significant art thefts in recent years. The brazen robbery occurred on March 22nd when four masked individuals forced entry through the main door of the Villa dei Capolavori museum.

The stolen artworks include Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s ‘Les Poissons’ (valued at approximately €6 million), Paul Cézanne’s ‘Still Life with Cherries,’ and Henri Matisse’s ‘Odalisque on the Terrace.’ The combined estimated value of the stolen masterpieces reaches €9 million (£7.8 million).

According to Italian media reports, the entire operation was completed within a remarkably efficient three-minute timeframe. The thieves specifically targeted the French Room on the building’s first floor before making their escape by climbing over a perimeter fence. Museum officials described the perpetrators as ‘structured and organised,’ noting that additional artworks would likely have been stolen had the alarm system not been triggered, prompting immediate police response.

The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1984 following the death of art collector Luigi Magnani, houses an impressive private collection in his former family residence. The stolen Renoir painting, created around 1917, represents the artist’s Impressionist period. Cézanne’s watercolor still-life, completed circa 1890, is particularly rare as the artist predominantly worked in this medium during his final years. Matisse’s 1922 work depicts two figures—one reclining in sunlight while another holds a violin.

Italy’s Carabinieri and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Bologna have launched a comprehensive investigation into the theft. The incident follows last October’s daylight jewel robbery at the Louvre in Paris, highlighting ongoing security challenges facing European cultural institutions. News of the heist was deliberately withheld from public disclosure until Sunday to facilitate initial investigative efforts.

French counterterrorism authorities have apprehended three individuals in connection with a foiled explosive attack targeting the Paris headquarters of Bank of America. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the city’s prestigious 8th arrondissement, mere blocks from the iconic Champs-Élysées avenue.

According to detailed reports from AFP, the initial suspect was detained at approximately 03:30 local time (01:30 GMT) after placing a suspicious device containing five liters of flammable liquid alongside an ignition mechanism near the banking facility. A second individual, allegedly documenting the scene with a mobile device, managed to evade capture during the initial response.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez presented a concerning geopolitical dimension to the attempted attack, suggesting potential connections to ongoing Middle Eastern tensions. “In this type of conflict, you have a number of Iranian services that are likely to carry out actions such as these through proxies,” Nuñez stated, while acknowledging that these suspicions remain under formal investigation.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed Sunday that two additional suspects had been taken into custody as part of the comprehensive investigation initiated on March 28, 2026. The primary suspect, identified as a minor, has had their detention period formally extended under French anti-terrorism legislation, which permits initial holding periods of up to 96 hours with possible judicial extensions.

Minister Nuñez emphasized that similar attacks had been prevented across multiple European nations, specifically mentioning the Netherlands, Britain, and Norway. In response to this security threat, French authorities have heightened vigilance nationwide, with increased security presence at transportation hubs and sensitive locations.

The investigation, now led by France’s specialized anti-terrorism prosecution office, examines charges of “attempted damage by fire or other dangerous means in connection with a terrorist undertaking” and “terrorist criminal conspiracy.” The Paris judicial police and France’s domestic intelligence service (General Directorate for Internal Security) are collaborating extensively on the case. The Iranian embassy in France has not issued any official response to the allegations presented by French authorities.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities barred senior Catholic clergy from entering Christianity’s revered Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday observances, marking an unprecedented interruption to centuries-old Easter traditions. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land were denied access to the sacred site believed to be Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial place.

Police authorities cited operational security concerns stemming from ongoing regional hostilities with Iran, which has targeted Jerusalem with missile attacks since February 28. Official communications emphasized safety limitations including inadequate emergency vehicle access through the Old City’s narrow passages and insufficient shelter capacity.

The Catholic institution condemned the prohibition as “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate,” noting that restricted Masses had been conducted continuously since conflict initiation. Church representatives had requested permission for a private ceremony limited to religious leaders rather than public congregation.

Farid Jubran, spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate, expressed dismay: “This sacred observance holds profound significance for Christians worldwide. We perceive no legitimate justification for this disruptive intervention.”

Alternative commemorations occurred at St. Savior’s Monastery, which neighbors designated shelter facilities. Cardinal Pizzaballa conducted prayers for peace at the Dominus Flevit Shrine while deliberately avoiding direct reference to the access controversy.

The incident prompted formal diplomatic protests from Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni characterized the prevention as “an offense against every community valuing religious freedom.” Italy’s Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador for clarification while reaffirming its commitment to protecting worship rights.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding Holy Week, pledging to develop security protocols permitting limited access to Christian holy sites. Security measures currently restrict gatherings to 50 persons near certified shelters across Jerusalem’s religious sites, including the Western Wall.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for Middle Eastern Christians enduring conflict during his St. Peter’s Square address, though the Vatican declined immediate commentary on the Jerusalem incident.