Church of the Holy Sepulcher was closed on Sunday in protest at the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality’s plan to impose taxes on churches in the city.
The decision was announced during a press conference held by the heads of Jerusalem’s Christian churches in the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The move also came to protest an Israeli bill that would allow Israel to expropriate church property in Occupied Jerusalem.
The number of Christians in Jerusalem currently is 10000-12000 while the total population is 300000. Heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem say that Israel seeks to weaken the Cristian presence in the holy city.
Isa Qissisia the Palestinian ambassador to the Vatican said on Sunday that it is obvious that the right-wing Israeli government is attempting to undermine if not to end the Christian presence in Jerusalem by seizing church property or imposing exorbitant taxes on them.
He added that Israel has crossed all red lines by freezing the bank accounts of Jerusalem churches warning of the repercussions of the new bill which would allow the Israeli government to confiscate and seize church property.
