Israel Iran War

A locked Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City stands closed to visitors amid the war with Iran, Friday, March 27, 2026.

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Jerusalem heads into a subdued Passover and Easter under the shadow of the Iran war

Jerusalem heads into a subdued Passover and Easter under the shadow of the Iran war

Jerusalem’s holiest places sit empty as missile fire disrupts Passover and Easter. On Monday, families brace for the holidays as the Iran war enters its fifth week. Stores in the Old City stay shuttered. Plazas and alleyways feel deserted. Israeli rules cap gatherings at 50 people, so the Western Wall is closed to worshipers. A key Passover blessing will go ahead with only a small group. Churches also scaled back. The Latin Patriarchate canceled the Palm Sunday procession. It said police even block top leaders from Mass at the Holy Sepulcher.