Evening star., 1957-04-19

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Jordan Prime Minister Hus
latter his nations acute politica'
Icrisis. went to his home ir
Jericho to observe the Moslem
Iday Of rest. The Arab country a
Ia whole appeared monentarily
more interested in religion thar
politics.
In Arab Jerusalem. where most
Iof the holy places are located
hotels were jammed with visit.
ling pilgrims. The tourist bureau
estimated 1000 visitors poured
in during Holy Week, reminiscent
Iof the busy days the city knew
before last years succession oil
crises and war.
Few Cross Frontier
Only about 400 pilgrims crossed
the Palestine armistice frontier
from Israel. and few Westerners
were among them. Most Of the
visitors in the Jordan sector were
Arab Christians who had come
Iby other routes from Egypt,
Cyprus and Syria.
Because of calendar differences
1.-THE Eastern and Western Easter
usually fall on different dates.
Once every four or five years,
however. they fall together, and
this year they coincide. The
various Christian groups had to
follow a strict schedule in the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre
to avoid conflicts.
Moslem visitors also crowded
into the city. This is Ramadan
la fasting month for Moslems-
and the devout like to come to
Jerusalem every Friday in Ram
adam TO pray in the Dome of the
Rock. third most holy place in
world to Moslems. In an area
where Q Jewish temple once
stood, q beautiful Moslem dome
covers the rock from which the
prophet Mohammed is said to
have risen into heaven on his
horse.
| A few miles to the north on
Mount Gerizim. near Nablus. the
last 300 survivors Of the Biblical
Samaritan community gathered
for their Saturday passover
feast. unchanged In any detail
since the exodus from Egypt.
Sheep. ritually slain during
prayers on the mountainside,
were being baked in earth, to
be eaten with bitter herbs and
lunleavened bread, according 10
the rules Of Moses.
Temperatures Chilly
The few hundred pilgrims
from the Israeli sector Of Jeru-
salem contrasted with several
Thousand who crossed the city's
dividing line last year. It was
the smallest number crossing for
the Easter observances since the
Palestine war divided the city
nine years ago.
Temperatures were chilly to-
day as the visitors filed through
the Mandelbaum Gate into the
Old City. The. sky was cloudy
and there were intermittent
drizzles during the morning.
The sharp decrease in the
number Of tourists attending the
iobservances was attributed to
the general Middle East tension
In the aftermath Of the Sinai
war, the United States ban on
travel of American citizens that
was lifted only early this month
and the recent political up
heaval In Jordan. Travel agents
said removal Of the United States
travel restrictions came TO late
for organized tours or any
stable individual travel before
Easter.
Those making the crossing to-
day included Christian Arabs liv-
ing in Israel. members Of the
foreign diplomatic corps, Roman
Catholic priests and nuns, Prot
estant clergymen and a scatter
ing OF foreign visitors. Among
the first arrivals at Mandelbaum
Gate was q group Of 20 Canadian
priests.
Crosses Are Carried
Today's observances include
the traditional tracing of the
way Of the cross. with pilgrims
carrying heavy wooden crosses
along the route followed by Jesus
from the scene Of his trial to
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