Father Royce Morcos, official spokesperson for the Alexandria Orthodox Church, said violators of the the travel ban to Israel will be punished, adding that Pope Tawadros II will not change the decision that was taken by Pope Shenouda, forbidding Copts to go to Jerusalem without Muslims.
Some 305 Copts have left Cairo Airport in the past two days heading to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to spend the Easter holiday there and visit the holy site, shared by both Muslims and Christians.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm