Our Existence is in Danger: The Armenian Community of Jerusalem Appeals to the International Community

The historical existence of the Armenian community in Jerusalem is now in danger. Community representatives have urgently appealed to the international community, asking for support in protecting Jerusalem's historic Armenian Quarter at a critically decisive moment.

Representatives of the Armenian community emphasize that the recent actions of the Israeli police have raised the risk levels of the existing threats faced by the community. Despite ongoing legal processes initiated by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the local Armenian community aimed at annulling the illegal deal regarding the 'Cow Garden,' the Israeli police have now joined forces with Israeli settlers, who are actively escalating tensions and attempting to forcefully change the realities on the ground. As a result, the 1,600-year presence of the Armenian community in Jerusalem is under severe threat.

“Any deal regarding the 'Cow Garden' is null and void, threatens our existence as a community, and violates our property rights. We urge the international community to recognize the significance of our cultural and historical heritage in Jerusalem and to stand by us in defense of our right to exist as Armenians in Jerusalem,” the statement reads.

The Armenian community calls upon all interested parties, including heads of state, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and human rights advocates, to raise public awareness on the issue, unite, and make maximum efforts in solidarity with Armenians to halt further encroachments on Armenian properties and to maintain the status quo in the Armenian Quarter.

The community urges pressure on the Israeli police to stop their immediate assistance to Israeli settlers who wish to carry out violent encroachments against the 'Cow Garden,' the Armenian Quarter, and the Armenian community.

“They are armed. We are not,” the statement concludes.

It should be noted that the Armenian Patriarchate has profitable properties in Western Jerusalem, housing around 160 businesses, with the monastery relying on the income generated from these businesses. In July 2021, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Chief Secretary Sevan Garabedian, and property supervisor Father Harutyun Yeritsyan signed a document to lease land belonging to the patriarchate—the 'Cow Garden' property—to Australian Jew Dani Rubinstein for 99 years. The deal was intended to build a hotel in that area. The Armenian community regularly holds protests against this agreement in Jerusalem.