Occupation seizes church land in Silwan, record escalation of attacks against Christians in Jerusalem

The Israeli occupation authorities have fenced off a vital plot of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate with an iron fence in the town of Silwan in occupied Jerusalem. This step comes amidst continuous procrastination by Israeli courts in considering the lawsuit filed by the Patriarchate protesting the illegal seizure of its church properties.

Local sources reported that occupation forces stormed the site last week and erected iron gates and a fence around the land, claiming it belongs to the municipality. The person responsible for caring for the land, Khaled Al-Zeer, explained that the purpose of these measures is to force the landowners to neglect it, paving the way for its complete control under cosmetic pretexts and false landscaping.

The targeted land measures about 11 dunams and holds great religious and historical importance as it contains ruins dating back to Roman civilization and ancient tombs associated with Christianity. Those in charge of the monastery confirm that attempts to control this area began more than a decade ago through various arms of the occupation, including what is called the Nature Authority and the Municipality.

Land guardians and farmers there have faced systematic restrictions since 2009, as occupation forces deliberately uproot trees and demolish stone terraces built to restore the site. Through these documented practices, the occupation aims to prevent any Palestinian or church activity in the area to promote the Israeli narrative that claims the land is neglected and needs external intervention.

Legally, the occupation authorities refuse to recognize official documents proving the land's affiliation with the monastery and continue to postpone court sessions despite the submission of all evidence. The court uses the pretext of needing to examine Israeli claims, while preventing the original landowners from cultivating or caring for it to reinforce the 'neglect' argument it uses for seizure.

In a related context, data issued by human rights centers specializing in religious freedom revealed a dangerous escalation in the pace of attacks targeting Christians and their holy sites in Jerusalem. According to reports, more than 88 incidents of assault and harassment have been documented since the beginning of this year, most of which were concentrated in the Old City, around Mount Zion, and the Armenian Patriarchate.

Statistics indicate that the second quarter of this year alone witnessed 63 incidents, signaling a new record that surpasses the violations observed last year. These violations varied between verbal and physical assaults, vandalism of graves and tombstones, in addition to drawing racist slogans and repeatedly desecrating Christian religious sites.

They want us to neglect the land so that they can later storm it under the pretext that it is neglected and needs landscaping and care, but they aim to Judaize all these lands.