Israel in March 2026: the most important developments in society
Religious sites drew the most attention in Israeli society in March 2026. On 29 March Israeli police blocked the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and other Catholic leaders from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing security concerns. After criticism from European officials and others, the decision was reversed, the service went ahead, and on 30 March the patriarch's access was restored. Israel had also barred Ramadan Friday prayers at the Temple Mount, which Muslims call Al-Aqsa, on 6 March as a safety precaution and kept the compound closed at the end of Ramadan; police dispersed worshippers praying outside on 20 March. On 20 March Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied denigrating Jesus after comparing him to Genghis Khan, saying no offense was intended toward Christians.
The West Bank was the second theme. A UN human rights report on 17 March said Israel had displaced about 36,000 Palestinians there over the past year, called the scale 'unprecedented' and raised concern that it could amount to 'ethnic cleansing'. Settlers set fire to a mosque on 12 March, and on 18 March the IDF chief called settler violence 'unacceptable'. More than 600 Israeli academics urged action against it on 30 March, and fifteen Palestinian families were evicted in East Jerusalem on 26 March. UN experts said Israel systematically tortures Palestinians in custody, and Israel dismissed one report as propaganda.
The war with Iran shaped daily life. More than 3,000 flights were cancelled across the region on 1 March. A poll by the INSS found 81% of Israelis supported the strikes on Iran, while small anti-war rallies took place in Tel Aviv and Haifa. A study reported that 100,000 people had left Israel in two years.
Abroad, protests against the war took place in Pakistan, Spain, Rome, London and New York. The ADL reported a surge in antisemitic tropes, and an explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam on 14 March.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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