Some 2,000 Egyptian Coptic and Greek Orthodox Christians have been restricted by Egypt from making a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem for Easter services.
Egyptian authorities have forbidden these Christian pilgrims from traveling to Israel. Egyptian travel companies have notified Israeli tourist offices.
The decision follows an uproar over the arrest of Mohammed Essam Ghoneim el-Attar who is standing trial in Egypt for allegedly spying for Mossad.
Even though the Christian pilgrims pre-paid for their reservations, Jerusalem hotels are refusing to refund them, claiming they rejected hundreds of other potential guests to make room for the pilgrims.