Israeli Supreme Court rules against Greek Patriarch over Jaffa Gate property
The Israeli Supreme Court rejected the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s appeal against the settler organization Ateret Cohanim’s takeover of the Greek Orthodox properties at Jaffa Gate, leaving the protected Palestinian long-term tenants at risk of eviction.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — After 17 years of litigation and legal battles, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected June 8 an appeal by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate against the settler organization Ateret Cohanim’s takeover of the church’s property in the Bab al-Khalil (also known as Jaffa) area in Jerusalem.
The case goes back to 2004 when Ateret Cohanim seeking to judaize East Jerusalem, notably the Old City, obtained long-term protected rental rights to three properties, including the Imperial and Petra hotels, located in the city’s Muslim Quarter where all Palestinians live.
Ateret Cohanim — which, like other extremist organizations, has resorted to the Absentee Property law, brokers and illegal methods to takeover properties in Jerusalem — claims that it had bought the three properties from the Patriarchate during the time of former Patriarch Irenaios.
However, the current Patriarch Theophilos III says that the process was marred by a lot of fraud and manipulation.
