It’s Holy Week, but Jerusalem’s Old City is quiet and eerily empty - The Washington Post

The Washington Post
April 5, 2026
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Jerusalem’s Old City is quiet and empty during Holy Week.

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Jerusalem's Old City is experiencing an unusually quiet and empty Holy Week, according to The Washington Post. This significant reduction in visitors stands in stark contrast to typical Holy Week celebrations, which usually draw large crowds of Christian pilgrims and tourists to the sacred sites. The emptiness indicates a dramatic shift in the annual religious observances within the historic city. This situation affects local businesses reliant on tourism and alters the traditional atmosphere for religious communities observing the holy period. The lack of usual activity reflects broader regional or global circumstances impacting travel and public gatherings.

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