After Outrage Over Ban of Patriarch's Access to Holy Sepulchre, Netanyahu Backtracks – What Will Happen with Holy Fire?

Following an initial ban on access for the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Netanyahu announced that a plan will be drawn up to allow access for church leaders to the holy sites in the coming days. The initial decision sparked strong reactions from international leaders, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron, who condemned the violation of religious freedom. The Israeli government justifies the initial decision as a security measure, due to recent attacks from Iran. Despite the reversal, the case has raised concerns about the status of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the free exercise of worship.