The Israeli government has resumed its efforts to impose municipal taxes on Armenian Church property in Jerusalem, a move that has been widely condemned by the Armenian Patriarchate as unjust and unacceptable, reigniting a dispute that has drawn widespread concern from Christian leaders in the Holy Land. The Armenian Quarter, home to one of the oldest continuous Armenian communities in the world, has maintained a presence in Jerusalem for over 1,700 years This development was confirmed through a new communiqué issued by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem on September 22, 2025, and published on X by Jerusalemite-Armenian Kegham Balian.
The announcement states that the postponed administrative hearing over Arnona (municipal tax) claims has been rescheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025. The hearing pertains to administrative petition ATM 1470-02-24, filed by the Patriarchate in relation to the dispute. Earlier this year, in February 2025, the Armenian Patriarchate was officially notified that the originally scheduled hearing had been cancelled. That cancellation was received with optimism, as it signaled a possible shift toward resolving the matter through the designated governmental committee chaired by Tzachi Hanegbi, which was established in 2018 specifically for such cases.
“The Patriarchate had placed sincere trust in this process and welcomed the dialogue through the committee,” the communiqué states. “It is therefore with disappointment and concern that we now approach a new hearing date, while the dispute has not been redirected to the appropriate governmental channels.”
The Patriarchate emphasized that resuming legal action contradicts the formal notification they received earlier this year and undermines trust in the process. The communiqué warned that this reversal raises serious concerns about the sincerity of the authorities and their willingness to engage in good faith negotiations.
The Church is urging that these disputed Arnona tax claims be resolved not through unilateral legal enforcement, but rather through the agreed-upon framework established by the Israeli government and the Heads of Christian Communities in the Holy Land.
“The Armenian Patriarchate urges that these disputed Arnona tax claims be addressed not through unilateral legal enforcement, but rather through the structures already agreed upon.”
In a firm appeal, the communiqué calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Mr. Tzachi Hanegbi to immediately intervene, freeze all legal proceedings including the upcoming hearing, and restore the authority of the committee as the proper forum for addressing such matters. It concludes with a call to protect the basic rights of Christian institutions: The Patriarchate “urges the Israeli government to ensure that the rights of the Armenian Patriarchate, as well as other Christian institutions in the Holy Land, are protected from these unprecedented financial pressures.”
