Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, one of the four sectors of the walled Old City, is facing a threat to its existence by a controversial land sale. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which administers the quarter and houses the Cathedral of St. James, has reportedly sold three properties in the area to an Israeli settler organization called Ateret Cohanim.
The deal, which was signed in 2018 but only revealed recently by Israeli media, has sparked outrage among the Armenian community and other Christian denominations in Jerusalem. They fear that the sale will undermine the Christian presence and heritage in the holy city, where Armenians have lived since the 4th century AD.
The Armenian Quarter occupies 14% of the Old City’s total area and has a population of about 2,400 people. It is considered the oldest living diaspora community outside the Armenian homeland and has made significant contributions to Jerusalem’s culture, history and art. The quarter is also home to an Armenian museum, library, school and printing press.
The properties sold by the patriarchate include a hotel, a residential building and a plot of land near the Jaffa Gate. According to Ateret Cohanim, which aims to create a Jewish majority in the Old City and East Jerusalem, the deal was done legally and transparently. However, critics accuse the patriarchate of corruption and secrecy, and claim that the sale violates international law and the status quo agreement that governs the holy sites.
The Armenian community has launched a campaign to stop the sale and to demand accountability from the patriarchate. They have also appealed to the Israeli authorities, the Vatican, the United Nations and other international bodies to intervene and protect their rights and interests. The campaign has received support from other Christian churches, as well as Muslim and Jewish groups.
The land sale is not only a matter of real estate, but also of identity and survival for the Armenians of Jerusalem. They hope that their voice will be heard and that their quarter will remain a vibrant and diverse part of the Old City.
