KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) has urged the Home Ministry to rescind its ban on Christian pilgrimages to Israel, which was invoked recently due to security concerns in the Middle East.

In a report by news portal The Star Online, CCM secretary-general Rev Dr Hermen Shastri pointed out that amid the unrest, thousands of pilgrims are still currently travelling into Israel and Palestine.

“Many of them will avoid places where they might be in close proximity to danger,” said Hermen. 

“I think the Home Ministry has to sit down with the travel agents specialised in the pilgrimages and ensure that they are only going to places where it is safe, whether in Palestine or Israel.”

Yesterday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was reported saying that the freeze was due to the unpredictable situation in the region.

However, World Discovery Travel managing director Inbam Solomon told The Star Online that the suspension was announced since August last year.

She also hoped that the situation will be solved soon, as pilgrims usually travel to Israel in February.

“I have five groups who have been forced to postpone their pilgrimage,” she added.

A Christian leader who wished to remain anonymous also claimed that Christians were not the only ones who go to Jerusalem for religious purposes, as there were also Muslims and other Malaysians who go on business trips.

“It’s not right to say that it is a Christian issue alone,” he said.

Putrajaya had relaxed restrictions for religious visits to Israel in 2012, ditching the quota of pilgrims and allowing travel up to 21 days at a time.

Parts of Israel form the “Holy Land”, an area significant to Jewish, Christians, Muslims and Baha’is, including the holy city of Jerusalem.