Jordan condemns Israeli attempt to seize Armenian Christian church’s property in Jerusalem

AMMAN, Jordan

Jordan on Thursday condemned an attempt by Israeli authorities to seize control of a property that belongs to the Armenian Christian church in the Old City area of occupied Jerusalem.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said Israeli police’s attempt to evacuate the "Cows' Garden," part of the property of the Armenian Patriarchate, is "invalid and unacceptable measures under the international law and a violation to the existing historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem."

It said Israeli provocative measures against Christians in occupied Jerusalem and assaults on clergy are a "flagrant and unacceptable" violation of international law and existing historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its sanctities.

It urged the international community "to assume its responsibilities and to stop the ongoing Israeli violations of the international law."

There has been no comment by the Israeli government.

In recent years, there has been an increase in Israeli attacks against Christian clergy in Jerusalem by settlers who spit on monks and verbally assault them, and police who have been involved in physically assaulting Palestinians.

Tensions continue to soar across the occupied West Bank amid a deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.

The Israeli army has since killed at least 456 Palestinians, and detained nearly 8,000 in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara