The Church of the Holy Sepulcher marks the spot where Jesus died on the cross, was anointed, buried and resurrected. In the dim upper recesses, pilgrims pressed their lips to the spot where tradition says he was crucified. Below, they touched their foreheads to the salmon-colored stone that marks the place where many Christians believe Jesus was anointed with spices and shrouded before burial. Hotels normally bursting at the seams report occupancy rates as low as twenty percent, a potential economic disaster since both sides count tourist dollars here. Let Israelis and Palestinians live in peace.
Officials say there are fewer pilgrims than in previous Easters because of the uprising.
In front of the columned and decorated tomb where Jesus was buried, priests draped in red and canary yellow robes waved censers on long chains as hymns were sung. People have been coming here for centuries, no matter what the difficulties. Israeli police shepherded celebrants around the altar or to watch from balconies. The air was thick with incense. In front of the church, Israeli police stopped Arab men and checked identity cards, calling in the numbers by radio and holding them until they passed checks.