The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, headed by Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee has issued an urgent letter to churches worldwide, warning of Israel’s dangerous and escalating measures against the Christian presence in Jerusalem. The committee condemned the reimposition of taxes on churches and their properties, as well as the unlawful seizure of Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate land, calling these actions a blatant violation of historical agreements and international law. It emphasized that such measures are part of a systematic effort to weaken and target religious institutions.
The letter underscored that churches and religious institutions in Jerusalem have been exempt from municipal taxes for centuries under international agreements upheld by successive authorities, from the Ottoman Empire to the British Mandate and the Jordanian rule. Israel’s disregard for these agreements, the committee stated, constitutes a direct attack on the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
These measures, the committee asserted, are not mere administrative decisions but rather political tools used by Israel to assert control, particularly under an extremist government that is intensifying demolitions and forced displacements against Palestinians, both Muslim and Christian. The letter also highlighted the increasing attacks on clergy and Christian areas, describing them as part of a broader effort to erase the Christian identity of the Holy City.
