Armenian church warns of heritage risk as Israel reopens tax hearings

Israeli authorities are reportedly intensifying legal pressure on the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, alongside other Christian ecclesiastical institutions, in a renewed attempt to impose municipal taxation. 

The Armenian Patriarchate has formally appealed to Israeli officials, urging a reconsideration of the decision to subject the churches to municipal tax obligations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The dispute dates back to February when the Jerusalem municipality accused the Armenian Patriarchate of accumulating unpaid municipal taxes allegedly dating from 1994. The municipality has since sought to confiscate properties that have historically belonged to the Armenian Apostolic Church’s diocese for centuries, heightening concerns over the protection of religious heritage sites.

Initially, the authorities communicated to the Patriarchate that the tax matter would be addressed outside of the judicial system, through an extrajudicial mechanism. This approach was to be facilitated by a committee established in 2018, comprising representatives from the Israeli government and religious leaders across the Holy Land, intended to resolve such sensitive disputes through dialogue rather than litigation.

However, in a reversal of this position, Israeli authorities have scheduled new court hearings for September 29. In response, the Armenian Patriarchate has submitted a petition requesting the cancellation of these proceedings, emphasizing the detrimental impact of renewed judicial action on prospects for peaceful resolution.

The Patriarchate’s statement expresses profound disappointment, underscoring that “the decision to convene new hearings seriously undermines confidence in the authorities’ willingness to engage in constructive dialogue through the government-appointed committee designed for this purpose.”

Calling for a resumption of negotiations, the Patriarchate insists that the taxation issue should be addressed through collaborative dialogue rather than unilateral administrative enforcement. It has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and the committee chairman Tzachi Hanegbi to halt all judicial proceedings and prioritize extrajudicial discussions aimed at safeguarding the rights and heritage of Jerusalem’s Christian churches.

By Vafa Guliyeva