Jerusalem: Israel on Tuesday accused the UN Mideast peace envoy of stoking tensions between Israel and Christians over a dispute that arose during Easter celebrations in Jerusalem.
UN envoy Robert Serry said he and other diplomats had joined an Easter procession at the invitation of Jerusalem`s Palestinian Christian community but were denied access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at a police checkpoint.
A letter to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon from Israel`s UN ambassador Ron Prosor -- made public today by the Israeli foreign ministry -- said that on the day of the Holy Fire ceremony on April 19, the narrow lanes of Jerusalem`s walled Old City were packed with worshippers and crowd control was a major challenge.
"Against this backdrop, and instead of taking constructive actions to help mitigate the sensitive situation, Robert Serry, the UN`s special envoy to the Middle East, took disruptive steps that exacerbated tensions on the ground," the letter said.
"It is unfortunate that a UN official abused his position and the UN platform to express personal opinions."
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity`s holiest sites, is shared by six denominations -- the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Egyptian Copts, Syrian Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox.
Serry said at the time that the group he was accompanying was stopped at a security checkpoint before the church "despite earlier assurances... Of unhindered access."
"The Israeli police refused to allow such entry claiming they had orders to that effect," he said.
