Jerusalem, Appeal of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate on the Disputed Buildings Has Been Rejected

Agenzia Fides ^ | 6/11/19

[marshmallow]

Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - The Supreme Court of Israel has rejected the appeal with which the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem had tried to block the sale of three buildings of its property in the Old City of Jerusalem, acquired by the Jewish organization Ateret Cohanim.

According to the judgment issued by the Court on Monday 10 June, the properties of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate were legitimately acquired by foreign intermediaries acting on behalf of Ateret Cohanim. The sentence handed down two years ago by the District Court of Jerusalem was confirmed.

Two of the three contended buildings are located near Jaffa gate, in the Christian area of the old city, and are now used as a hotel. The sale had taken place in 2004, and the news of the cession had provoked protests within the Greek Orthodox Christian community, culminating with the deposition of Patriarch Irenaeus I on behalf of the Holy Synod with the accusation of undue alienation of buildings of the Patriarchate. The decision of the Supreme Court of Israel ends a dispute that lasted more than 14 years.

In 2017, after the ruling of the District Court of Jerusalem that had already recognized the legitimate acquisition of the disputed buildings by Ateret Cohanim, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem had signed a joint document (see Fides, 5/9/2017) in which they denounced the "systematic attempt to undermine the integrity of the Holy City" and "to weaken the Christian presence in the Holy Land"