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Israeli authorities authorized a restricted prayer arrangement at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday night following tensions earlier in the day when senior Christian leaders were barred from entering the site under wartime safety rules.

According to an Israel Police statement, the decision was reached after a security review led by Yerushalayim District Commander Deputy Commissioner Avshalom Peled, alongside David Sub-District Commander Dvir Tamim, and in coordination with a representative of the Latin Patriarch. The plan allows for limited access in order to preserve worship opportunities for various Christian groups at the church.

Police emphasized that the limitations placed on holy sites lacking standard protective infrastructure—including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—are based on Home Front Command guidelines and are meant to protect those present.

Authorities added that similar precautions are in place elsewhere, noting that both the Kosel Plaza and the Har Habayis compound have also been closed to visitors due to ongoing security concerns.

“Iranian regime missiles do not distinguish between religion or background, and the Iranian regime continues to launch missiles toward populated areas and holy sites,” the Israel Police stated.

The revised arrangement comes after a confrontation earlier Sunday, when police stopped the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the church. He had attempted to access the site despite wartime restrictions issued under Home Front Command directives.

A joint statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land said that Cardinal Pizzaballa, accompanied by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, was halted on his way to the church while traveling privately and “without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act,” and was forced to turn back.

Church officials pointed out that, because of the incident, “for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.”

They characterized the situation as “a grave precedent,” stating that it disregards “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”

Church leadership stressed that since the beginning of the conflict they have adhered to all imposed restrictions, including canceling public events and arranging for global broadcasts of services.

“Preventing the entry of the Cardinal and the Custos… constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure,” the statement said, calling the decision “hasty and fundamentally flawed” and “an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo.”

The Patriarchate and the Custody of the Holy Land conveyed “profound sorrow” to Christians locally and worldwide over the inability to hold prayers on one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar.

In the diplomatic arena, Israel’s Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, was called in for talks at the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome following the episode, while other diplomatic missions also requested explanations from Israeli officials.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded that all current safety directives in Yerushalayim’s Old City are a direct consequence of Iranian missile attacks.

“As is known, the Iranian regime has fired on the Old City on multiple occasions, striking sites in the vicinity of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall,” the statement said.

A much-anticipated bein hazemanim concert for bochurim in Carteret, New Jersey, was abruptly shut down tonight after police intervened over several concerns, including alleged vaping or smoking inside the venue and overcrowding.

The event, held at the Carteret Performing Arts Center, drew a large turnout of bochurim eager to attend what had been billed as an uplifting evening of music and chizuk during bein hazemanim.

The concert, for men only, was organized in memory of Dovi Steinmetz, the beloved son of R’ Shloime Steinmetz, and had generated significant excitement in the weeks leading up to it.

Featuring a lineup of well-known Jewish music performers, the program included Yidi Bialostozky, Shloime Daskal, Joey Newcomb, and Chaim Horowitz, accompanied by the Shea Kaller band. In addition, surprise appearances were planned, including singer Levi Falkowitz.

The evening began smoothly, with spirited singing and an energized atmosphere inside the hall. However, as the program progressed, police were called to the scene due to alleged overcrowding outside, and the situation soon escalated. Law enforcement then entered the building and ordered the event to be shut down. Officials reportedly cited safety concerns, including overcrowding of the exits, which they said were a fire hazard, and allegations of vaping or smoking taking place inside the venue.

The shutdown came just as Levi Falkowitz had taken the stage.

Witnesses describe confusion and frustration as organizers and attendees attempted to understand the sudden decision. Many bochurim were forced to disperse from both inside the venue and the surrounding area as police tried to clear the scene, but many bochurim had gathered to sing in unison in the venue’s lobby.

Organizers had intended the evening to serve as both a musical experience and a meaningful tribute. Instead, the night ended prematurely, leaving many participants disappointed.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Sunday night that negotiations between the United States and Iran, being facilitated by Pakistan, are moving forward and could soon produce an agreement, as tensions in the region remain high.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the diplomatic track as advancing positively and indicated that a deal might be reached in short order.

He also noted a development in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran has increased the number of Pakistan-flagged oil tankers it is permitting to pass through the strategic waterway, doubling the total to 20.

Reporter: “Do you see a deal with Iran this coming week?”

Trump: “I do see a deal in Iran. Could be soon.” pic.twitter.com/5NSSLBCrg1

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 30, 2026

Trump further asserted that Iran’s leadership has effectively been replaced following the recent joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said eliminated the prior regime figures.

When asked whether the United States is weighing a ground deployment, Trump said, “I just have lots of alternatives. We have tremendous numbers of ships over there. We don’t need them all because of, you know, the power.”

He added, “We’re ahead of schedule with Iran. We’re weeks ahead of schedule. If you would have said that in three days we were going to knock out 158 ships, their entire navy, which we did. We knocked out their entire air force. We knocked out most of their missiles.”

Addressing questions about Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named Supreme Leader after his father, Trump said his condition remains unclear. “He may be, but nobody’s heard about him. He may be alive, but he’s obviously very seriously in trouble. He’s seriously wounded.”

Last weekend, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power infrastructure. That deadline has since been extended twice to allow time for continued negotiations, most recently on Thursday, when he granted Iran an additional ten days.

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Friday that Washington is awaiting Iran’s response to a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the conflict, and expressed expectation that talks between the sides will take place this week.