Jews block Greek Orthodox Christians from entering holy site

For two days in a row, haredi yeshiva students blocked Greek Orthodox Christians from entering the compound that houses both the area believed to be King David’s tomb and the area where the last supper was purportedly held. On the first day of the protest, there were hundreds of haredi protestors, though the number had dropped to only twenty on the second day.

A police spokesman said that the Christians called the police. Protestors were peacefully dispersed without arrests being made on the second day. The day earlier, the protest leaders had said that terms need to be set for entry to the tomb, including the demand to not allow crosses inside.

The building where the protests took place is part of the original Hagia Zion, a Byzantine church built in the 4th Century. The site is identified with the Last Supper and is one of the earliest gathering spots for Christians. The claim that the area was the burial place of King David was made 800 years later. A number of scholars, including many of the Orthodox faith, believe that the tomb is unlikely to be the burial place of King David.