Evangelisn implosion

International | Conservative religious parties in Israel are driving a bill that would bar evangelism; the vote is a major test of the coalition government's strength; Christian groups brace for a big fight | Mindy Belz

This is the week Jerusalem cleans up. Kodachrome boxes, gum wrappers, and bottled water containers are what's left of the tourist procession from the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

During Passion Week travel to the holy sites of Christendom did not noticeably abate even with terrorism on the rise, as Palestinians and Israelis continued armed clashes over Israel's plans to build a Jewish settlement in nearby East Jerusalem. The hordes of visitors noted well the steps of Christ as they navigated with metal detectors to trace the traditional path of his condemnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. What they did not see is how few local followers of Jesus there are among the landmarks.

Both Palestinian clergy and Christian worshipers from the nearby West Bank and other biblical sites are forbidden from traveling to Jerusalem to worship at the place where Jesus is believed to have been crucified. Israeli taxis weighed down with Western tourists crisscross the Old City, but Palestinian believers--their cars branded with special blue license plates--cannot leave the occupied areas even for the short excursion to Jerusalem.