Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., March 22, 2008 Adar2 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:08 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Catholic priests attending an Easter mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (Reuters) Last update - 05:10 05/04/2007 Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem holy sites ahead of Easter By The Associated Press Thousands of pilgrims retraced Jesus' footsteps Wednesday as they celebrated Holy Week at the sites where Christians mark his crucifixion, death and resurrection. A decrease in Palestinian-Israeli violence and the overlap of Christian calendars brought a wave of visitors to Jerusalem's Old City. Tourists virtually disappeared from Jerusalem when Palestinian suicide bombers began targeting the city after fighting between Israel and the Palestinians broke out in September 2000. Advertisement In recent years, however, there has been a marked drop in attacks here, and tourists have slowly returned to the Old City, home to most of the holy sites. Thousands of pilgrims began the celebrations with a Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to the Old City, retracing Jesus' triumphant return to the city. On Good Friday, they will mark his crucifixion and death. On Sunday, they will celebrate Easter, the holiest day of the Christian calendar, marking Jesus' resurrection. The crowds were also larger than usual as five different Christian sects - with different calendars - celebrated the festivities on the same days for the first time in four years. Due to the influx of pilgrims, officials established strict schedules for each denomination to conduct religious ceremonies inside the Old City, said the Rev. Athanasius Macora, a Franciscan priest based in Jerusalem. There have occasionally been scuffles during disagreements over access to holy sites. Thousands of Palestinian Christians from nearby Bethlehem also come to Jerusalem during Holy Week. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Good Avraham Hunting An ex-security guard solves a problem that has baffled mathematicians for decades. A better place Some 2,400 African refugees have entered Israel via Egypt since January.   1.   I hope it doesn`t happen 17:34  |  Yonatan 05/04/07   2.   What does the Torah say about this? 08:40  |  Pinchas 06/04/07   3.   Citizenship, allegiance 09:25  |  John Isenhower 06/04/07   4.   Wonderful vestments 09:59  |  Jasmine Murphy 06/04/07   5.   # 2 Pinchas 15:40  |  ChanahS 06/04/07   6.   Jasmine Murphy on Tithing 13:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/03/08   7.   Pinchas in GERMANY 19:45  |  Chaval 21/03/08   8.   Israel has turned the Holy Land into despair for non-Jews 14:12  |  Dutch 22/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel Responses: 161 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos Responses: 172 PM says worried Russian weapons will reach Hezbollah Responses: 94 Israel, Germany plan int'l summit to stop Iran nuke program Responses: 98 13-year-old boy wounded in terror attack near Hebron Responses: 90 Editorial: J'lem yeshiva massacre must not lead to boycott of Israeli Arabs Responses: 87 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 07:23 Israel, Russia finalize deal on supply of armored vehicles to PA 13:29 Saudi king urges U.S. to press Israel over peace with Palestinians 12:45 Body of Palestinian pulled from collapsed Egypt-Gaza tunnel 12:23 Police arrest 2 youths suspected of stoning cars on Wadi Ara road 12:54 Hamas, Islamic Jihad officials in Egypt for talks on Gaza truce 01:25 Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem's Old City for Good Friday 02:04 Haniyeh to expand gov't in bid to strengthen Hamas hold on Gaza 09:16 Ex-prof with alleged terror ties refuses to testify in U.S. court 06:56 Umm al-Fahm resident shot to death outside her home 07:03 U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial 02:45 Ch. 2 airs satellite footage after High Court rejects Ch. 10 appeal 02:50 German Jewish leader raps pope over prayer for conversion of Jews Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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