The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt on Saturday denied organizing religious visits to Jerusalem confirming its full commitment to the Holy Synod’s decision to reject all forms of normalization with Israel.
Spokesman for the Coptic Church Paul Halim told Quds Press that since Pope Shenouda III first made a decision to reject all visits to Jerusalem as long as it was under occupation the Church’s position has never changed.
He added that the Coptic trips presently sent to Jerusalem are organized by tourism companies.
According to Egyptian news reports thousands of Egyptian Christians have travelled to the occupied Palestinian territories to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Copts Today website reported that the number of Egyptian Christians visiting Jerusalem in 2018 dropped by 20% compared to 2017 due to the US Jerusalem move and the escalating tension in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In February 2017 the Supreme Constitutional Court in Egypt for the first time ruled to allow Christian employees to spend a paid one-month leave in Jerusalem similar to the measures followed with the Muslim employees who travel to perform Hajj.
Generally a notable increase has been witnessed in the number of Egyptian Christians visiting Jerusalem after Pope Twadros II in November 2015 travelled to the holy city to take part in the funeral of the Archbishop of Jerusalem.
