The leaders of various major Christian churches in Jerusalem have united in opposition to the municipality’s decision to impose municipal taxes (Arnona) on church properties, accusing Israeli authorities of launching a “coordinated attack” on the Christian presence in the Holy Land, reports The Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel.
In a joint statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches expressed deep concern over the municipality’s move, arguing it contradicted centuries of historical agreements between the churches and civil authorities.
“We declare that such a measure both undermines the sacred character of Jerusalem and jeopardizes the Church’s ability to conduct its ministry in this land on behalf of its communities and the worldwide church,” stated the church leaders.
They emphasized the significant contributions of Christian churches to Jerusalem, including investments in schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and facilities for the disadvantaged. They stated that civil authorities have historically recognized and respected these contributions.
The heads of churches called upon the municipality to retract its decision and uphold the historically sanctioned status quo, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Jerusalem’s sacred character and protecting the churches’ ability to fulfill their ministries.
In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the heads of the major Christian denominations alleged that four municipalities across Israel”Tel Aviv, Ramle, Nazareth, and Jerusalem”had recently submitted warning letters to church officials, cautioning them of legal action for alleged tax debts.
“We believe these efforts represent a coordinated attack on the Christian presence in the Holy Land. In this time, when the whole world, and the Christian world in particular, are constantly following the events in Israel, we find ourselves once again dealing with an attempt by authorities to drive the Christian presence out of the Holy Land,” wrote the church leaders.
While Israeli officials have tried to dismiss the disagreement as a routine financial matter, the churches say the move upsets a centuries-old status quo and reflects mounting intolerance for the Christian presence in Israel and the West Bank.
The churches, major landowners in the Holy Land, have been exempt from property taxes under longstanding tradition, arguing that their funds go to services that benefit the state, like schools, hospitals, and homes for the elderly.
The conflict over municipal taxes on church properties in Jerusalem has been ongoing for several years. In 2018, the Jerusalem Municipality announced plans to collect taxes from properties owned by churches that are not used as houses of worship. This decision led to significant backlash from church leaders, who viewed the move as violating longstanding agreements and international obligations guaranteeing their rights and privileges. The situation escalated when church leaders closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre”revered by Christians as the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection”in protest, highlighting the severity of their opposition. They argued that taxing sites like pilgrim hostels and information centers would infringe on Christian religious observance. After the public backlash, Netanyahu quickly suspended the plan.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches who signed the statement included:
- Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
- Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
- Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate
- Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
- Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
- Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
- Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
- Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate
- Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
- Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
- Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
- Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
- Msgr. Georges Dankaye’, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
The churches’ collective opposition to the municipal tax underscores their commitment to preserving Jerusalem’s religious and social fabric, reflecting concerns shared by the Christian community in the Holy City.
