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Last update - 04:36 27/10/2007
Israel rescinds Arab Christian clergy travel rights in W. Bank
By The Associated Press

Israel has rescinded some travel privileges for Arab Christian clergy traveling to and around the West Bank because of security concerns, an Interior Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

"The decision means the religious leaders' visas will be good for one entry only, and not for repeat visits as in the past," spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said. "This means they will be required to coordinate each trip they make," she said.

"According to a request by security officials, we restricted the visas of the clergy," Haddad said. "We are trying to find a solution to make it easier for them."
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A small Christian minority lives in Israel and the Palestinian territories, with members of the religion comprising less than two percent of the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was not immediately clear how many Christian leaders would be affected by the change.

Israel has in the past tried to maintain warm ties with Christians, often easing restrictions to allow pilgrims entry into the West Bank town of Bethlehem for the Christmas holiday.

Father Jack Abed, a parish priest of the Melkite Catholic community near the West Bank town of Ramallah, said the new rule violated understandings between Israel and the Vatican.

"One of the agreements is the freedom of movement and worship," he said.

"There is no freedom of movement if Israel wants to limit visas to a single entry," he added.

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      1.   Who, What, When, Where, WHY? 18:39  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/10/07
      2.   To #1 18:58  |  Mike 26/10/07
      3.   #1, #2 - why let facts get in the way? 19:29  |  William 26/10/07
      4.   William - What are the facts? 20:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/10/07
      5.   Where are the Islamophobes? 20:02  |  Omar 26/10/07
      6.   William #3 20:26  |  Omar 26/10/07
      7.   where are all the usual suspects 20:30  |  Labhras 26/10/07
      8.   Archbishop of Canterbury visit 20:31  |  Boycott 26/10/07
      9.   Catholic padres forget themselves,there`s no "free entry" for 20:32  |  Absolute Sweden 26/10/07
      10.   Mark Of Lewiston, let`s keep it simple 20:34  |  Ibrahim 26/10/07
      11.   Official Israeli policy 20:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/10/07
      12.   Israelis hate Christians Just as much as Muslims 20:48  |  Lev Bronstein 26/10/07
      13.   Religious freedom 20:51  |  christa 26/10/07
      14.   Israels war with Christians 20:54  |  David 26/10/07
      15.   Lahabras can`t imagine somebody could say no to Father Mullighan 21:25  |  Absolute Sweden 26/10/07
      16.   israeli benevolence 21:25  |  henon 26/10/07
      17.   Importance of Security 22:03  |  Leonora 26/10/07
      18.   Christian Clergy are a Threat? 22:04  |  dan 26/10/07
      19.   # 7 Wrong as always, Labra... 22:22  |  Misha 26/10/07
      20.   It is interesting to note the numbers 22:28  |  Bandar Michaels 26/10/07
      21.   Palestinian Christians 22:35  |  Johnny 26/10/07
      22.   Misha - Lo and behold our resident master bigot 22:44  |  dana 26/10/07
      23.   Misha - Lo and behold our resident master bigot 22:44  |  dana 26/10/07
      24.   A New Law Passed by the Israeli Government December 1977. 22:59  |  Maureen Ann 26/10/07
      25.   Sad Company 23:30  |  Tom 26/10/07
      26.   Henon#16,Italy,Spain,Mexico,Uruguay have curtailed the Cat 23:31  |  Absolute Sweden 26/10/07
      27.   Dan,google on Hilarion Capucci,a Greek Bishop smugling explosives 23:38  |  Absolute Sweden 26/10/07
      28.   Omar and Ibrahim 23:43  |  Abu Yusuf 26/10/07
      29.   Remember capuchi 23:45  |  Abu Yusuf 26/10/07
      30.   DISGUSTING laws 23:59  |  American Christian 26/10/07
      31.   #26 Avi Yosef. Good job 00:02  |  Amirjacobitski 27/10/07
      32.   Remember The Rosenbergs, Pollard and AIPAC - Bar Israelis from US 00:18  |  The Goose 27/10/07
      33.   Absolute sweden 15 00:28  |  realism 27/10/07
      34.   Absolute Sweden, explain please 00:30  |  henon 27/10/07
      35.   Speaking about consistency No. 3 00:38  |  Marlene N. 27/10/07
      36.   # 26 Your references are at least 70 years old 00:44  |  christa 27/10/07
      37.   this palestinian christian cleric... 00:54  |  maria 27/10/07
      38.   lev bronstein.......a lot of true christians coming to jerusalem 01:00  |  maria 27/10/07
      39.   Henon,how do you know it`s "visiting of parish"? 01:07  |  Absolute Sweden 27/10/07
      40.   Ibrahim#10 - goes deeper than your simplistic view 01:07  |  William 27/10/07
      41.   I guess they don`t trust catholics 01:08  |  maria 27/10/07
      42.   Omar#6 - not entirely true 01:14  |  William 27/10/07
      43.   Christa,want new references,google at Catholic pedophile priests 01:15  |  Absolute Sweden 27/10/07
      44.   misha..........you`re right! 01:16  |  maria 27/10/07
      45.   Chris` official policy - lies and distortions #11 01:18  |  William 27/10/07
      46.   Note to readers / editors 01:19  |  William 27/10/07
      47.   Hey Goose#32 - I`m already here 01:22  |  William 27/10/07
      48.   Marlene#35 - Is consistency a social norm? 01:25  |  William 27/10/07
      49.   American Christian #30 - I dare you to visit the MIddle East 01:28  |  William 27/10/07
      50.   William- I have been through those nations... 02:33  |  Tess 27/10/07
      51.   Sancrosanct Values? 02:58  |  Brad 27/10/07
      52.   Palestine`s Christians 03:01  |  Paulo 27/10/07
      53.   The headline may imply that 03:09  |  Joseph E . 27/10/07
      54.   #49 William we are not interested in how you 03:23  |  Labhras 27/10/07
      55.   tess in the midwest....don`t just visit...work and live 03:41  |  maria 27/10/07
      56.   Maria... 05:28  |  Tess 27/10/07
      57.   American Christian Zionists??? 06:54  |  Question 27/10/07
      58.   re bandar Micheals 12:06  |  Mattithyahu 27/10/07
      59.   Mattiyahu 13:51  |  Bandar Michaels 27/10/07
      60.   Ban on "Christians" 13:56  |  Shekinah 27/10/07
      61.   Obviously, you missed the point No. 48 14:09  |  Marlene N. 27/10/07
      62.   # 43 The issue is religious freedom in Israel occupied territorie 14:21  |  christa 27/10/07
      63.   maria, who are you closest to ? 14:24  |  christa 27/10/07
      64.   # 52 Right on, Paulo 14:27  |  christa 27/10/07
      65.   maria 14:30  |  christa 27/10/07
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