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.