{"id":2585119,"date":"2026-03-29T17:34:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T21:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huckabee-says-israeli-police-blocking-palm-sunday-overreach\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T17:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T21:36:17","slug":"huckabee-says-israeli-police-blocking-palm-sunday-overreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huckabee-says-israeli-police-blocking-palm-sunday-overreach\/","title":{"rendered":"Huckabee says Israeli police blocking Palm Sunday &#8216;overreach&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhuckabee-says-israeli-police-blocking-palm-sunday-overreach%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2585119&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized Israeli police for blocking the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and other church leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday, calling the move an overreach with broad repercussions. The incident occurred as israeli <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officials-launch-murder-probe-into-death-of-officer-following-d-c-protests\/\" title=\"Officials launch murder probe into death of officer following D.C. protests\">security forces<\/a> cited safety concerns and enforced guidelines that restrict gatherings to 50 people or fewer, with the Church saying the restriction was disproportionate even if security precautions were warranted. israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed sorrow over the incident and noted it stemmed from security concerns, while Huckabee and Sen.Ted Cruz argued that safety concerns should not prevent the Patriarch from conducting Palm Sunday rites. palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, the holiest period in Christianity, and the article places the event in a broader context of political and religious responses in the region. The piece also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >references related topics<\/a>,including a condemnation of anti-Catholic vandalism in New York City and comments from U.S. figures about holy Week and security.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Huckabee says Israeli police blocking Palm Sunday service is an &lsquo;overreach&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2543890\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>U.S. Ambassador to Israel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-huckabee\/\">Mike Huckabee<\/a> shared his disapproval of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\">Israeli<\/a> police blocking the Church of the Holy Sepulchre from entering into Palm Sunday services on X.<\/p>\n<p>Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roman-catholic-church\/\">Roman Catholic<\/a> leader in Jerusalem, and the Rev. Francesco Ielpo were stopped en route to the church when they were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508806\/latin-patriarch-jerusalem-israel-police-palm-sunday\/\">told by Israeli police to turn back<\/a>. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre said it understands the precautions that Israel&rsquo;s security forces are taking amid regional warfare, but also said that restricting the Holy Day service &ldquo;constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508881\/pakistan-us-iran-peace-talks-war\/\">Pakistan to host US-Iran peace talks as Tehran vows to set invading troops &#8216;on fire&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508806\/latin-patriarch-jerusalem-israel-police-palm-sunday\/\">Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Israeli police blocked him from Palm Sunday service<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508790\/diplomats-meeting-pakistan-iran-war\/\">Top diplomats meet in Pakistan for talks on ending Iran war as strikes continue<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Huckabee sided with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, saying that the Israeli National Police made an &ldquo;unfortunate overreach, already having major repercussions around the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4508404\/houthis-first-missile-attack-israel-iran-war\/\"><strong>HOUTHIS CLAIM FIRST MISSLE ATTACK ON ISRAEL SINCE START OF IRAN WAR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or less,&rdquo; Huckabee said on X. &ldquo;The 4 representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction.&nbsp; Statements from the Gov&rsquo;t of Israel indicate the action to prohibit Cardinal Pizzaballa entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was for safety reasons, but churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or fewer.&nbsp; For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My statement re Prohibiting the Latin Patriarch of entering Church of Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday:<br \/>While all Holy sites in the Old City are closed due to safety concerns for mass gatherings including the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Al Aqsa Mosque, the action&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovMikeHuckabee\/status\/2038267075592872362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities,&rdquo; Huckabee said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee poses for a photo during an interview in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he called the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Pizzaballa, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Isaac_Herzog\/status\/2038261310069043327?s=20\">&ldquo;to express my great sorrow&rdquo;<\/a> over what happened on Sunday, and clarified that the incident arose due to &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-brings-in-250000-foreign-nationals-through-its-cbp-app-report\/\" title=\"Report: Biden Admin Brings in 250K Foreign Nationals via CBP App.\">security concerns due<\/a> to the continuous threat of missile attacks.&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovMikeHuckabee\/status\/2038267705464148329?s=20\">Huckabee reposted Herzog&rsquo;s post on X<\/a>, saying he is &ldquo;grateful&rdquo; for the Israeli president&rsquo;s statement.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\">Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX) also reposted Huckabee&rsquo;s original statement, saying that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/2038312788498452921?s=20\">the security concerns are valid<\/a> but &ldquo;should not have prevented the Patriarch&rdquo; from entering the church and conducting the Palm Sunday blessing.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4508487\/mamdani-denounce-anti-catholic-vandalism-new-york-city\/\"><strong>MAMDANI DENOUNCES ANTI-CATHOLIC VANDALISM IN NEW YORK CITY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates Jesus&rsquo; entry into Jerusalem before His death and resurrection. Holy Week is regarded as the holiest week within the Christian faith.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> have yet to acknowledge Holy Week&rsquo;s beginning this year as of Sunday afternoon, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3378946\/white-house-renews-promise-to-defend-christianity-in-us-during-holy-week\/\">though they did so last year<\/a>. Trump posted a letter he received from evangelist Franklin Graham in October <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116312749951796210\">on Truth Social<\/a>, which read, &ldquo;The only way to Heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Huckabee: Israeli police overreach at Palm Sunday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2585120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26052563013290-e1774811691865.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3978,76777,76778,76776,5894],"class_list":["post-2585119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-huckabee","tag-israelipolice","tag-overreach-2","tag-palmsunday","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26052563013290-e1774811691865.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585119"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585123,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585119\/revisions\/2585123"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2585120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}