The Office of the European Union (EU) Representative in the occupied Palestinian territories has voiced concern over a settler group’s takeover of Greek Orthodox properties in east Jerusalem’s Old City.
“Attempts by settlers to take over Christian property in the Old City of Jerusalem must be halted as they jeopardize the heritage and traditions of the Christian community” the EU representative office said in a statement on Friday.
“On June 8 the Israeli supreme court rejected the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s appeal against the settler organization Ateret Cohanim’s takeover of the Greek Orthodox properties at Jaffa Gate (Bab al-Khalil) leaving the protected Palestinian long-term tenants at risk of eviction.
“The court ruling further increases pressure on the Christian presence in Jerusalem with threats to Christian communities and to their property by settlers.”
“The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah express deep concern over the worrying implications the court ruling and the take-over will have on the Christian community and the Christian Quarter of the Old City.”
The EU also warned that such settler attempts “pose a threat to peaceful coexistence of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem as well as to the established religious equilibrium.”
The EU has called for “the upholding of the status quo including for Christian holy sites stressing that “freedom of religion and the special status and character of the city must be preserved and respected by all.”
