Israeli municipal authorities in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday suspended a plan to impose taxes on properties owned by Christian churches.
Earlier on Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a professional team was being established to negotiate with church officials to “formulate a solution.”
“As a result the Jerusalem Municipality is suspending the collection actions it has taken in recent weeks” it said.
Roman Catholic officials issued a statement saying that Christian leaders were holding consultations and would soon announce their response including a decision on whether to reopen the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Roman Catholic Greek Orthodox and leaders of other Christian denominations closed the famed church on Sunday to protest an order by Israeli Mayor Nir Barkat to begin taxing their properties.
The church is revered as the site where Jesus was crucified and resurrected and the decision closed one of Jerusalem’s most visited holy sites just ahead of the busy Easter season.
The churches accused Barkat of acting in bad faith and undermining a longstanding status quo. They say their non-church properties still serve religious purposes by providing services to pilgrims and local flocks.
