Palestinian lawyers submit complaint against Greek Orthodox church for selling land to Israelis in Jerusalem: “Crimes that constitute a betrayal of the homeland”
Headline: “Lawyers submit a legal complaint to the [PA] attorney general against illegal selling and transferring of Christian endowment lands”
“Approximately 21 lawyers submitted a legal complaint to [PA] Attorney General Ahmed Barrak yesterday [Aug. 30, 2017] against illegal selling and transferring of the Christian endowment lands in Palestine to the occupation and the settler organizations by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos [III]. Deputy Chairman of the [PA] Bar Association Nael Al-Houh said during a sit-in strike in front of the [PA] attorney general’s office… that ‘This complaint is against the head of the [Greek Orthodox] community, even as we emphasize that we respect all of the Christian communities.’ He emphasized that lands belonging to the Palestinian people are being stolen, plundered, and transferred illegally in occupied Jerusalem. Al-Houh noted that the Palestinians – Muslims and Christians alike – are partners in this homeland and oppose the plundering and theft in the occupied city… Al-Houh demanded that the [PA] government cancel the recognition of [Greek Orthodox] community head Theophilos, because he is committing crimes that constitute a betrayal of the homeland.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate sold 500 dunams (124 acres) to Israeli investor groups in 2017. This transaction was made public in June 2017.
“Approximately 21 lawyers submitted a legal complaint to [PA] Attorney General Ahmed Barrak yesterday [Aug. 30, 2017] against illegal selling and transferring of the Christian endowment lands in Palestine to the occupation and the settler organizations by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos [III]. Deputy Chairman of the [PA] Bar Association Nael Al-Houh said during a sit-in strike in front of the [PA] attorney general’s office… that ‘This complaint is against the head of the [Greek Orthodox] community, even as we emphasize that we respect all of the Christian communities.’ He emphasized that lands belonging to the Palestinian people are being stolen, plundered, and transferred illegally in occupied Jerusalem. Al-Houh noted that the Palestinians – Muslims and Christians alike – are partners in this homeland and oppose the plundering and theft in the occupied city… Al-Houh demanded that the [PA] government cancel the recognition of [Greek Orthodox] community head Theophilos, because he is committing crimes that constitute a betrayal of the homeland.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate sold 500 dunams (124 acres) to Israeli investor groups in 2017. This transaction was made public in June 2017.