Israeli Police Ban Celebration of Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor

Mount Tabor on the Feast of the Transfiguration. Photo: pravkhabarovsk.ru

GALILEE — The Israeli police have prohibited the celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor, citing the organizers’ inability to provide sufficient safety guarantees.

According to the press service of the Israeli police, “Commander of the Northern District, Shimon Ben Shabo, issued an order prohibiting the holding of the mass religious event ‘Feast of the Transfiguration,’ scheduled for August 20 on the summit of Mount Tabor.”

Police stated that the reason for the decision was the organizers’ failure to fulfill several requirements for conducting the event and guaranteeing participants’ safety. An additional factor was the resignation of the representative of the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs, who had previously overseen the feast in past years.

The decision to ban the celebration was also supported by the Jewish National Fund, the fire service, emergency medical services, and the Parks and Nature Authority.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Municipality of Jerusalem has frozen bank accounts belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in response to a years-long tax dispute.

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