News - Al Jazeera: Jerusalem churches warn against settlers taking over Armenian neighborhood land

Church leaders are concerned about attempts by Israeli settlers to seize a significant plot of land in the Armenian neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, Al Jazeera reported. In a statement, Jerusalem's patriarchs and church heads said they were concerned about "a threat to the Christian presence in the Holy Land" after an Israeli developer - himself a settler - attempted to gain control of the land in dispute through violent means. The developer is making claims after a deal was signed several years ago with Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Manougian. Jordan and Palestine stripped Manoogian of his status as patriarch because of questionable real estate deals. The Armenian Patriarchate has since withdrawn from the agreement. The real estate transaction reportedly concerns a vast tract of land representing 25 percent of the total area of the Armenian neighborhood in Jerusalem's Old City. The churches have asked the Israeli authorities to allow the courts to consider the matter. In the meantime, they have expressed fears that the land will be seized.