Reversing centuries of precedent, Jerusalem municipal authorities are placing liens on churches to collect $186 million in taxes.
By Griffin Paul Jackson | Christianity Today | Feb 25, 2018
“These actions breach existing agreements and international obligations which guarantee the rights and the privileges of the churches, in what seems as an attempt to weaken the Christian presence in Jerusalem.”
— The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem“All of our assets are frozen. We can’t pay for food, salaries, administration, nothing.”
— Anonymous official of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
In an action not seen in more than a century, the leaders of Jerusalem’s churches closed the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday in a show of united protest. The dramatic decision comes in response to moves by Jerusalem authorities to begin collecting tens of millions of dollars in taxes from churches, as well as proposed legislation to confiscate church-owned land.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre — considered by many Christians to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, tomb and resurrection — is jointly managed by a cadre of Orthodox and Catholic churches. It is one of the most-visited sites in Israel, and its closure came as a sudden shock, especially with Easter celebrations approaching.
In a defiant statement released at the time of the closure, church leaders called the municipality’s new policy a “systematic campaign against the churches and the Christian community in the Holy Land,” according to The Jerusalem Post. [Read the full statement here →]
In a dramatic about-face earlier this month, the municipal authorities of Jerusalem announced their intention to collect back taxes on property owned by churches in the city, totaling 650 million shekels (US$186 million).
The city property tax, called arnona, targets businesses and offices belonging to the historic churches in Jerusalem. Houses of worship will be exempt from taxation, but all other church properties will be fair game.
The unexpected proclamation came at a time when the city of Jerusalem faces budget shortfalls and mounting debt.
HolyLandJustice.org 
*A modest proposal for fair taxation in the Holy Land*
Hey, Government of Israel. Let’s do this.
You to right ahead and tax Christian churches in the Holy Land at whatever rate you wish, and for as many years back as you desire.
And, recognizing that “fair is fair”, we Christians in the Holy Land will tax your settlements and militarized zones and protected nature reserves and all those other things you’ve put in place at the exact same tax rate and for the exact same number of prior years.
Do we have a deal?
On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 11:08 AM, HolyLandJustice.org wrote:
> Bishop’s Committee posted: ” Reversing centuries of precedent, Jerusalem > municipal authorities are placing liens on churches to collect $186 million > in taxes. By Griffin Paul Jackson | Christianity Today | Feb 25, 2018 > “These actions breach existing agreements and international o” >
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