The doors of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem were closed on Sunday, 25 February, and will remain closed indefinitely: this is what the three Churches in charge of the Basilica – the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Patriarchate – have decided in response to the Municipality of Jerusalem’s decision (Church lands bill) to make Churches (and others) pay municipal taxes, known as Arnona, on buildings not used for worship. The Israeli press reported that the Municipality of Jerusalem had requested payment from Church institutions of approximately 650 million shekel (over €151 million) through the taxation of 887 Church properties and UN agencies such as the Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). An unprecedented move to protest against what amounts to a “flagrant violation of the existing Status Quo”, the three Church leaders explained in a statement. Indeed, according to Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, and Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of the Holy City, this “systematic and offensive campaign has reached an unprecedented level as the Jerusalem municipality issued scandalous collection notices and orders of seizure of Church assets, properties and bank accounts for alleged debts of punitive municipal taxes”. The three Christian leaders see the unilateral decision by the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, as a “step that is contrary to the historic position of the Churches within the Holy City of Jerusalem and their relationship with the civil authorities. 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 greatest victims in this are “those impoverished families who will go without food and housing, as well as the children who will be unable to attend school”. “The systematic campaign of abuse against Churches and Christians reaches now its peak as a discriminatory and racist bill that targets solely the properties of the Christian Community in the Holy Land is being promoted. This abhorrent bill is set to advance today in a meeting of a ministerial committee, which, if approved, would make the expropriation of the lands of Churches possible. This reminds us all of laws of a similar nature which were enacted against the Jews during dark periods in Europe”. This “systematic and unprecedented attack against Christians in the Holy Land” tramples on “the delicate fabric of relations between the Christian Community and the authorities”, relations that have been in place for decades. Hence the “unprecedented” decision of the Churches to close the Holy Sepulchre until further notice. Meanwhile, liturgies and celebrations will continue to take place inside, behind closed doors. A giant poster has appeared on the walls of the Basilica with the image of the Holy Sepulchre and the words “Enough is enough” followed by “Stop the persecution of Churches”.

On 14 February, the 13 Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem had already issued a statement in which they declare that the decision by the Mayor of the Holy City “is contrary to the historic position between the Churches within the Holy City of Jerusalem and the civil authorities”. The latter, “have always recognized and respected the great contribution of the Christian Churches, which invest billions in building schools, hospitals, and homes, many for the elderly and disadvantaged, in the Holy Land”. Hence the request to the Municipality to “retract their statement and ensure that the status quo which was sanctioned by the sacred history is maintained, and the character of the Holy City of Jerusalem is not violated. We stand firm and united in our position to defend