Greek Orthodox Patriarchate denies selling real estate to Israel in Jaffa

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate denied on Sunday claims that it sold property belonging to the church in Jaffa to Israeli parties, a statement reported by PLS48.net said.

In the statement it warned of trusting the “false news” which was reported by mass media. It also warned of the false campaign against the church, which it says seeks to divide the church.

The statement stated that the Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, did not sell any property belonging to the church, noting that the property referred to in the media is located on the outskirts of Tel Aviv and it was rented for Israeli firms for 99 years in 1997 during the time of his predecessor.

The Israeli firm, the statement explained, claimed that it has priority to buy the church’s property, but the church rejected this. Therefore, the Israeli firm took the issue to the Israeli courts.

Consequently, the church brought a foreign firm, which is not Israeli, to buy the property after 99 years based on the conditions of the 1997 contract.