Director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader on Sunday, March 29, reiterated that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, remains the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al Quds Al Sharif.

He also condemned the Israeli occupation authorities’ move to prevent Palm Sunday mass as an “unprecedented and unacceptable escalation.”

In remarks to Al Mamlaka TV, Father Bader stressed that worship is a fundamental human right that must not be obstructed. He noted that the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was effectively closed for the first time in history.

He said the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Francesco Ielpo, intended to celebrate the occasion peacefully but were barred from doing so, calling it a “blatant interference.”

Father Bader drew parallels between this incident and the closure of Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and the prevention of Eid Al Fitr prayers, arguing that Israel’s cited concern for “public safety” masks attempts to impose hegemony over holy sites.

He also criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting his recent controversial remarks about Jesus Christ and saying his policies aim to undermine the Arab, Christian, and Islamic presence in Jerusalem.

The move prompted international condemnations from Jordan, Italy, and France, protesting Israel’s prevention of high-ranking clerics, including Cardinal Pizzaballa, from accessing the Church.