Jerusalem Has Most Foreign Visitors Since Start of Palestinian Uprising

Church bells tolled across the holy city of Jerusalem to ring in Easter for the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Jerusalem’s old, walled city was crowded with foreign tourists, the heaviest turnout since the start of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation more than four years ago.

Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which marks the sites where tradition holds that Jesus died and later rose from the dead, was packed for Mass. Archbishop Michel Sabah, the Roman Catholic patriarch, asked for peace and justice in his message.

Israel’s Tourism Ministry estimated that 70,000 foreign visitors came to celebrate Easter and Passover, the weeklong commemoration of the flight of the ancient Israelites from Egypt. Passover began at sundown Friday. On Sunday, many observant Jews went to the Western Wall for prayers.

Security patrols were increased, but there were no reports of incidents.

In Britain, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey urged Christians to protect the environment.

“No hope of heaven should be used as a pretense to neglect Earth. We must nurture, not consume and destroy the intricate and beautiful life systems which made up God’s creation,” he said.