RA Deputy FM: attempt is being made in Jerusalem to change status quo

ArmInfo. An attempt is being made in Jerusalem, to change the status quo. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan told reporters on April 11.  According to him, the problem is much more complex than the issue of the safety of compatriots or citizens of Armenia. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not let developments escape its attention for a second, raising the issue both on international platforms and in contacts with partners, including Arab states.

The Israeli police continues attacks on the Armenian Quarter of  Jerusalem. Footage of the attack by the Israeli police on Cows'  Garden estate in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem has again appeared  on the Twitter (X). After the police left, Israeli extremists again  attacked the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem. Video footage shows how  members of the community, including the Armenian clergy, fight off  stones flying at them.

Notably, the Armenian Foreign Ministry has not yet made an official  statement on this matter, while these actions of the Israeli police  were previously condemned by France, Jordan and Russia.  On April 3,  2024, at approximately 11:00 local time, the Israeli police began an  illegal eviction from the territory of the Cows' Garden of the  Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, destroying the property of the  Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as attacking the clergy  and local Armenians. This is not the first attempt to forcefully  seize the property of the Armenian Patriarchate in the Old City.  The  Armenian community of Jerusalem has been protecting its property 24/7  since November 5, 2023. In the last 150 days alone, its  representatives have faced a barrage of unpunished attacks.

The SaveTheArQ calls on all international organizations to put  pressure on the Israeli government to resolve this situation, which  threatens the 1,700-year-old presence of Armenians in the holy city  of Jerusalem. In July 2021, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem  signed an agreement with an Israeli company, giving it the right to  build a luxury hotel on the Cows' Garden site, with the right to  demolish several historical buildings. The Patriarchate canceled the  deal after protests from the Armenian community, as well as the  authorities of the Palestinian Authority. Following this, attacks  began against the Armenian community, with the latest attack  occurring on December 28, 2023, when about 30 armed men attacked the  site, injuring several Armenian activists on duty there, including a  priest and seminary students.