The municipality of Jerusalem has frozen all bank accounts belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, writes Times of Israel, citing the content of a statement published by the Patriarchate and Patriarch Theophilus itself.
“On Wednesday, August 6, the municipality of Jerusalem unilaterally decided to freeze the bank account of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In our understanding, the reasons behind this decision are related to the issue of Arnona (real estate tax),” the statement said. The dispute between the municipality and several Christian churches that have real estate in Jerusalem has been going on for years.
A decade of agreement between churches and the State of Israel did not allow the municipality of Jerusalem to collect real estate tax from Christian institutions. In 2018, however, the city decided that the liberation for churches applies only to properties used “for prayer, for training in religion or for needs arising from it”, excluding activities serving pilgrims, such as hosts and cafes, and began to look for tens of millions of shekels.
At that time, then -mayor Nir Barkat frozen the bank accounts of several churches in Jerusalem, who in response closed the iconic church of the Holy Sepulcher for three days in protest. The municipality only gave way after the intervention of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since then, tensions have been renewed several times between the municipality and the church authorities in respect of specific properties or activities.
“As religious institutions, the churches play a vital role, maintaining educational, social and charity institutions that serve the local population, be it Christian,” said a statement by the group Protecting Holy Land Christians, which cooperates with the leadership of Jerusalem Patariamia. “Therefore, historical churches have never paid municipal or state taxes for church property – neither during the Ottoman, British, Jordan or Israeli rule.”
Taxes are required not only by the Orthodox – the Armenian Patriarchate challenges the charge of 120 million shekels ($ 32 million), and the Franciscan Order, which rules the Catholic shrines, has also received notifications. The municipality of Jerusalem claims that it acts strictly within the law, with negotiations with the churches continuing. The Israeli government has so far refrained from intervention, considering the issue of a prerogative of local authorities.
Due to the blocking of the bills, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is no longer able to pay salaries to the clergy, teachers and its staff. Other churches are also facing such disputes. A court case filed against the Armenian Patriarchate of the municipality of Jerusalem is to be considered in September.
