Your trusted source

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has warned of tensions following its decision to cancel the Cows’ Garden (Armenian Gardens) land deal.

"The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem hereby informs that after the cancellation letter of the Armenian Gardens the party relevant to the cancelled contract, instead of giving a legal response, reacted with the demolition of walls, demolition a parking plot, scraping of asphault pavements, and threatening to cause much more harm," the Patriarchate said in a communique on Monday.

"Yesterday they even brought security guards armed with high powered rifles and tactically trained dogs demanding an evacuation of the Armenian presence in the parking lot. As a reaction to this, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, members of the St. James Brotherhood, and members of the Armenian community, gathered in the Armenian Gardens and peacefully expressed their discontent.

"After a few hours, the two sides agreed to disperse until the Patriarchate receives an answer to their sent cancellation letter," it added.