(ANSA) - TEL AVIV, 12 DEC - "The ban on entry for foreigners to Israel entails cutting all Catholic pilgrims in the world out of the country on the occasion of Christmas".
This is the denunciation of the Custos of the Holy Land Father Francesco Patton on the extension until December 22 of the ban on entry established by the Israeli government in the face of the Micron variant.
Patton also spoke of "global and local damage".
"Blocking until December 22 means in practice - he explained - preventing any travel organization. We had complied with all the previous rules that allowed entry with sufficient health security. These new ones effectively block the possibility of celebrating Christmas in the Holy Land for children. Catholics, probably also for the Orthodox who celebrate in January. It must also be said that the Israelis continue to travel abroad and return to the country. I do not think there is reciprocity ".
"The damage - he added - is not only global, but also local, given that the Christians of Bethlehem who live in the pilgrimage industry are penalized and suffer excessive economic damage, as in Nazareth in Israel". "In this way - concluded Patton - you are not going anywhere ". (ANSA).