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JERUSALEM – Israeli police say they forcibly removed dozens of Jewish protesters trying to prevent a Christian ritual from taking place at a holy site revered in both religions.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says the skirmish took place Monday at a site revered by Jews as the tomb of the biblical King David and by Christians as the site of Jesus’ Last Supper.
On Sunday, dozens of Jewish protesters also attempted to block Christian prayer there for the holiday of Pentacost.
A status-quo arrangement permits Christian prayer at the site on specific holidays. The Vatican is lobbying Israel for more access to the site, which fundamentalist Jewish Israelis oppose.
The Custodia of Terra Santa, a Vatican representative in Jerusalem, said the events were “grave.”