Settlers attempt to seize Armenian properties under the protection of Israeli authorities in the Armenian Quarter in occupied East Jerusalem. Tensions have mounted in the past month after an Australian-Israeli developer leased 25% of the Armenian Quarter, which is home to about 2,000 Armenian Christians, from the Armenian patriarch against the community’s will.
A coveted plot of land inside the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem has become the focus of a legal controversy between the Armenian community and the developer who intends to build a luxury hotel complex on the property.
According Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif, “More than 1600 years long presence of Armenians in Jerusalem is under severe threat. Criminal settlers seek to grab their land violently under the auspices of the occupation forces and colonial law. As the political persecution of Armenians intensified, I sent an urgent appeal to the occupation police commander in Jerusalem, Doron Turgeman, and warned against his illegal political alliance with the settlers against the Armenian community. International intervention is needed too! This ethnic cleansing must be stopped now.”
“The Armenian properties are not for sale” in occupied East Jerusalem (Photo: Keghart)
On Friday, April 5, representatives of the Jerusalemite Armenian community, which includes social, charitable, youth and political clubs and associations and the SavetheArQ movement published an appeal to the international community for support in safeguarding the historical Armenian Quarter “at a terribly crucial moment for our community.”
Recent actions by the Israeli police have added a dangerous layer to the already existential threats we are facing. Despite ongoing legal proceedings initiated by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Armenian community seeking to nullify the illegal transaction involving the Cows’ Garden property, the Israeli police have now joined Israeli settlers to actively escalate tensions, forcefully change the facts on the ground and critically endanger our 1600-year-old presence in Jerusalem. To be clear, we declare in one united voice that any transaction regarding the Cows’ Garden is void, threatens our existence as a community and violates our property rights. The very existence of the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community of Jerusalem is now under historic threat.
“We implore the international community to recognize the significance of our cultural and historical heritage in Jerusalem and to stand with us in defense of our rights to exist as Armenians in Jerusalem. The Armenian Quarter is not merely a geographical location; it is a symbol of our enduring presence and identity. Any encroachment upon it not only undermines our community and Patriarchate, but it also threatens to destroy the very tapestry of the Old City.
We call upon all concerned parties—including heads of state, diplomatic missions, international organizations and advocates for human rights—to raise the public profile of this existential crisis, unite in solidarity with us and exert maximum efforts to halt further encroachments into Armenian properties and preserve the status quo in the Armenian Quarter.”
“We also call upon all those who care about the integrity of Jerusalem, its history and the viability of all of its communities to demand that the government of Israel order the Israeli police to cease aiding, abetting and even spearheading the company’s assault on the Armenian community, the Armenian Quarter and the seizure of the community’s precious properties.
They are armed. We are not. The rule of law—not illegal and forceful encroachment of Israeli settlers aided by the Israeli state police—must prevail. Our physical security, the pending legal processes and the status quo must be protected. Right now, all are in jeopardy because of the actions taken by the Israeli police and settlers. The protection and preservation of our heritage are not only a duty but also a testament to the shared values of respect, tolerance and cultural diversity that must be upheld in Jerusalem.”
Among the signatories to the appeal: Save The ArQ Movement, Jerusalem Armenian Benevolent Union, Armenian Young Men’s Society Hoyetchmen Club, Homenetmen Club, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and the Armenian Relief Society.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31242
