Ο πρώην διπλωμάτης των ΗΠΑ Πάτρικ Θέρος και 25 Αμερικανοί Γερουσιαστές παρενέβησαν (μεταξύ άλλων) για να αναγνωριστεί ο Θαβωρίου Θεόφιλος "Πατριάρχης Ιεροσολύμων". Στο παιχνίδι και ο Πάπας Βενέδικτος.
Israel Hesitant About
Approving New Patriarch
The ministerial committee for
Greek Orthodox Church Patriarchate matters met this morning to discuss Israel's
response to the appointment of a new Patriarch. Theophilos was elected
patriarch by the Greek Orthodox Synod in 2005, but the Israeli government has
not yet approved the appointment.
Israel's approval, together
with that of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, is required in order to
validate the election. With international pressure being exerted upon Israel in
this regard, the Supreme Court has granted the State of Israel another two
months in which to consider the issue.
Theophilos is considered to
have pro-Israel tendencies, and is certainly more supportive of Israel than his
predecessor Irineos, who was a close friend of Yasser Arafat. Irineos has been
deposed by the Greek Orthodox Synod, but Israel appears hesitant to recognize
this decision.
The Church accuses Israel of
making its recognition of Theophilos contingent upon his recognition of a
controversial land sale of two years ago. The Church sold two Jaffa Gate hotels
and neighboring shops to Jewish interests - but later repudiated the sale.
Church sources said that Irineos' trusted financial advisor Nicholas Papedemes
made the deal in Irineos' name, and then fled the country. Though Papedemes presented
a document signed by Irineos authorizing him to carry out financial deals,
Irineos said he never authorized the Jaffa Gate transaction.
A well-known Israeli lawyer
has submitted a document to the Supreme Court in which he said he was witness
to a meeting between then-Justice Minister Tzachi HaNegbi and Theophilos, in
which HaNegbi made Israel's terms quite clear. The lawyer wrote that HaNegbi
said that Israel would not recognize him as Church Patriarch unless he
officially approves the sale of the Jaffa Gate properties.
The Greek Orthodox Church
numbers about 100,000 faithful, most of them Arabs, and is considered the
richest church in Israel. The Church Patriarch has responsibility for its
extensive land holdings, which include the land on which the Knesset was built,
the Prime Minister’s and the President’s official residences, parts of
Jerusalem’s wealthiest neighborhoods, and locations in the Old City and in the
new Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa.
Irineos' anti-Semitism has
been well-documented. On July 17, 2001, Irineos wrote a personal letter to
Arafat, saying, "You are aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect
that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the
crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic]
Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine." In the letter, he asks
Arafat for his support, promising that if he is elected head of the church,
"rest assured, Mr. President, that the rights of our most beloved Palestinian
people on the Holy City of Jerusalem will find the most 'hot' supporter."
Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen, who
spoke with a leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, was shown copies of letters
by Greek Orthodox Church leaders in Canada, Britain, Russia, Finland and other
countries - all expressing support for Theophilos and puzzlement at Israel for
not recognizing him. Pope Benedictus has also written to this effect, as have
Dr. Samuel Kobia of the World Council of Churches, Pentagon official Patrick
Theros, and 25 U.S. Senators.
The ministerial committee on
Patriarchal affairs is manned by Ministers Avi Dichter and Tzipi Livni of
Kadima, Shalom Simchon and Eitan Cabel of Labor, and Yitzchak Cohen of Shas. Attempts to reach them for comment
were unsuccessful.
Πηγή: israelnationalnews.com
