Church leaders shut Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre in land, tax protest

Church leaders shut Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre in land, tax protestBy Ori Lewis JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Church leaders in Jerusalem shut the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday in protest at a new Israeli tax policy and a proposed land expropriation law which they called an unprecedented attack on Christians in the Holy Land. Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian church leaders said the holy site, a popular stop for pilgrims and where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, would remain closed until further notice. After the protest move, an Israeli cabinet committee delayed by a week its scheduled consideration on Sunday of a bill that would allow the state to expropriate land in Jerusalem sold by churches to private real estate firms in recent years.




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Bolivia's interim president's indigenous-free cabinet heightens polarization

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* Rightwing Christian Jeanine Áñez vows to ‘pacify’ country * Disrespect for indigenous Wiphala flag stokes outrageJeanine Áñez, the opposition senator who has claimed Bolivia’s interim presidency, arrives at the government palace in La Paz. Photograph: Juan Karita/APBolivia’s controversial new interim president has unveiled a new cabinet which critics say could further increase polarization in the country still deeply split over the ousting of her predecessor, Evo Morales.To the applause of military top brass, lawmakers and senators, Jeanine Áñez vowed to “reconstruct democracy” and “pacify the country” at a late-night ceremony in the “Palacio Quemado” (Burnt Palace) presidential building.“We want to be a democratic tool of inclusion and unity,” said the 52-year-old religious conservative, sitting at a table bearing a huge open Bible and crucifix.But the transitional cabinet sworn into office on Wednesday night did not include a single indigenous person, in a country where at least 40
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