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Christians, Jews, Muslims observe holidays amid rising Middle East violence

For the first time in decades, Muslims observed Ramadan, Jewish observed Passover, and Christians observed Easter — all at the same time — while the violence in the land the three religions consider holy was rising.

Fighting continued at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem. At least one person was killed and six were wounded in Tel Aviv. Two Israeli women were shot to death near a settlement on the occupied West Bank.

Rabbi David Spey, of Temple Bat Yam of East in Fort Lauderdale, said the violence is a result of conflicts that go back thousands of years.

“The conflicts we are witnessing today are not rational,” Spey said.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski marked Good Friday at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami’s Little River neighborhood.

“This is a time in which we meditate and we reflect on the price paid for our salvation,” Wenski said about the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

After Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, there was a large rocket barrage fired from Lebanon at Israel. Then Israel unleashed airstrikes on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

“Hatred, persecution, and oppression lead to continued violence and destruction and that love and embrace of the other is the path towards peace,” Spey said.


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