TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox leader makes rare Israeli visit
Rare visit: The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II walks outside the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Saturday, Nov
Change Size
Rare visit: The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II walks outside the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. Tawadros traveled with a delegation of senior bishops to attend the funeral of Coptic Archbishop Abraham of Jerusalem despite a ban on pilgrimages to Israel issued by his predecessor, the late Shenouda III, who opposed the normalization of ties between Egypt and Israel. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
R
span class="inline inline-center">Rare visit: The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II walks outside the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. Tawadros traveled with a delegation of senior bishops to attend the funeral of Coptic Archbishop Abraham of Jerusalem despite a ban on pilgrimages to Israel issued by his predecessor, the late Shenouda III, who opposed the normalization of ties between Egypt and Israel. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church is making a rare visit to Israel to attend the funeral of a senior Coptic official in Jerusalem.
Pope Tawadros II broke a ban on pilgrimages to take part in Saturday's funeral at a church at the Holy Sepulcher compound, where the Coptic church has maintained a presence since early Christianity.
The travel ban to Israel was imposed by Tawadros's predecessor, the late Shenouda III, who opposed the normalization of ties between Egypt and Israel.
A 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty ended hostilities between the two neighbors. But anti-Israel sentiments still run high in Egypt and many there have accused Tawadros of betrayal.
Tawadros insisted he was not making an official visit and was merely there to "bid farewell to a very important person." (ags)
