MUNICH: August 26, 2014
Pilgrims From Germany and England Are Caught Up in Police Action in Jerusalem

His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and the United Kingdom was leading a pilgrimage of parishioners from Germany and England to the Holy Land from July 30, 2014. Despite assurances by the Minister of Tourism of Israel that pilgrims and tourists are safe, the pilgrims visiting the Mt of Olives were witnesses and victims of unrest during their very first night. On July 31 and August 1, Israeli police, patrolling the Arab quarter of Jerusalem, used tear gas against local residents, which spread and filled the pilgrims’ hotel. They were forced to relocate to another hotel, although upon their return they discovered that their personal effects were damaged by the chemicals.

Archbishop Mark stated that this was the first such incident in his 34 years of leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land.