A representative of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem raised the issue of Armenian pilgrims during the meeting with Israel's Tourism Minister Yariv Levin.

During the Christmas and New Year’s reception in Jerusalem, Fr. Avghan Gogchyan noted that pilgrims coming from the Republic of Armenia are denied entry into the country, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

“Common people who work hard all year to save money and afford airline tickets, come to the Holy Land to fulfill a requirement of their faith,” but are detained at Ben-Gurion Airport and “are put on the next airplane and returned to Armenia or wherever they come from,” he said.

Gogchyan added that there is no explanation why they are denied entry and asked the minister to look into the matter and “to provide a satisfactory solution.”