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Orthodox Committee Demands Voiding Suspicious Deal Concerning Church Lands in East Jerusalem
The Executive Committee of the Greek Orthodox Conference in Jerusalem slammed the deal which was signed between the ousted Patriarch, Erenius, and an Israeli settlement company, in which the company was granted the ‘right’ to build on and use church lands.
The Committee demanded the current Patriarch, Theophilos, to void all deals signed between the former Patriarch and Jewish settlement companies, in which he gave up Arab, Palestinian and Christian lands to settlement corporations and settlement profiteers.
Erenius signed the deal on December 14, 2007, and gave settlement companies the right to freely run church lands.
The Committee added that Church lands in that area are located on the truce “Hudna” line, which separates between the West Bank and Israel.
It demanded the new patriarch to declare that Church lands are endowment (Waqf) lands that belong to the Church and are not for rent, loan or sale, and added that all Waqf properties are lands that historically belonged to the Arab-Christian church.
It also said that it is unacceptable that Arab Christians are immigrating from the Holy land after they were impoverished, and without a land to inhibit, while their Patriarchate is leasing and selling church property to companies that are bringing illegal Jewish settlers to live on Arab, Palestinian and Christian lands.
The Committee called on the Greek Orthodox Palestinian Christians, and all Christians along with national and religious institutions to unite and cooperate in defending Church lands in Jerusalem.
It is worth mentioning that Erenius granted two settlements companies the right to build thousands of houses of Jewish settlers, hotels and Malls on church lands.
Saed Bannoura
International Middle East Media Center