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Israeli Court to Hear Case on Foreclosure of Armenian Patriarchate Properties in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Armenian church

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem is fighting to prevent the foreclosure of its historic properties by the Jerusalem Municipality over a disputed municipal tax debt. A key legal hearing on this matter is scheduled for February 24, 2025, where the Patriarchate hopes to stop what it sees as an unfair seizure of its real estate.


The Jerusalem Municipality claims that the Armenian Patriarchate has not paid municipal taxes, known as Arnona, since 1994. Based on this claim, the city’s tax collection officer has determined that the Patriarchate owes a massive debt. However, the Patriarchate argues that these claims have never been proven in court and that standard legal procedures have not been followed.



One of the most striking aspects of this dispute is that a significant portion of the alleged debt concerns a property that the Municipality itself leases from the Patriarchate. Despite this, city officials insist on collecting the disputed amount and have moved forward with foreclosure proceedings.


The Patriarchate argues that the process is unfair because the city’s collection officer is acting as the plaintiff, judge, and executor all at once. The official has refused to reassess the legitimacy of the debt, stating that the deadline to object has passed. However, the Patriarchate maintains that it was never properly notified of the debt within the required legal timeframe. Despite these concerns, the collection officer has issued a foreclosure order, treating his own determination as if it were a court ruling.


Upon filing its petition against the foreclosure, the Patriarchate secured a temporary halt to the proceedings. However, if the court rules against it, the Municipality will be allowed to proceed with the property seizure immediately. This could set a legal precedent that might put other Christian religious institutions in Israel at similar risk.


The Armenian Patriarchate, which has been present in Jerusalem since the 7th century, sees this legal battle as part of a larger effort to weaken its presence in the Holy Land. The Armenian community itself has had roots in Jerusalem since the 4th century. The Patriarchate believes that the Municipality is targeting it specifically, as no other Christian institution has faced similar measures over tax debts.


In addition, the Patriarchate points out that while the Municipality is aggressively pursuing alleged debts from the church, it has failed to pay millions of shekels in rent that it owes to the Patriarchate. Instead of taking legal action to recover this unpaid rent, the Patriarchate has chosen to negotiate with the city in good faith.


In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu established a government committee led by Minister Tzachi Hanegbi to address the issue of Arnona taxes through dialogue with Christian leaders. This committee remains active and has made progress through negotiations. However, the Jerusalem Municipality’s latest actions contradict these efforts, raising concerns that local authorities are ignoring national-level discussions meant to resolve such disputes amicably.


The Patriarchate warns that allowing the foreclosure to proceed could have serious consequences for the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Other Christian institutions could face similar threats, impacting their religious, cultural, educational, and charitable activities.


In response to this crisis, the Armenian Patriarchate is calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Minister Hanegbi to intervene. It urges them to immediately halt the Municipality’s actions and resume negotiations to find a fair and peaceful resolution to the dispute.


As the February 24 court date approaches, the outcome of this case will have major implications—not just for the Armenian Patriarchate but for all Christian institutions in Jerusalem and beyond.



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