Orthodox patriarch ‘refuses’ invitation from the Israeli Jerusalem municipality

AMMAN — Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, All Palestine and Jordan Theophilos III on Tuesday “refused” an invitation from the Israeli Jerusalem municipality to participate in an annual dinner banquet scheduled for Thursday.

Refusing the invitation is an “unprecedented move” in line with escalations between the Orthodox Patriarchate and Israeli authorities due to several cases, the last of which imposing $190 million as taxes on church land, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The patriarch called on His Majesty King Abdullah, in his capacity as custodian of the Christian sites in Jerusalem, to continue exerting efforts aimed at stopping attacks on the city’s historical status quo.