The City of Jerusalem is a very unique City.
It is a Holy place to three Great Faiths.
It contains many sites of religious significance, often side by side to different Faiths. Even minimal construction work on one site can affect another site--often of a different--yet historically related Faiths.
It is of little historical controversy, as far as I know, that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are powerfully and deaply historically related.
Quote:
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"JERULSALEM: Isreal Refuses to Recognize Greek Orthodox Patriarch"--New York Times, by Serge Schmemann,April, 25, 2002
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The last Patriarch of The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Diodoros I, died in 2000.
The new Patriarch , Irineos, was elected by the Bishops of of the Jerusalem Patriarcate in August and enthroned on September 1, 2001.
As such, the Patriarchiate is titular head of a body that owns vast real holdings in the City, including the land on which Parliament stands, and derives multi-million income from leases.
Under Ottoman Turkish law, which Isreal still follows in this regard, a new Patriarch, must be approved by the Government.
According to the
New York Times the reason for the State of Isreal to withold its recognition stated by members of the Government is that he is pro-Palestinian Authority.
Another reason cited is the land-holdings which Iraneos has pledged to be done "in terms of transparency, mutual interest, and absolute conformity with the applicable laws of the state where the land is situated [as quoted in NY Times]."
Without formal recognition by the State of Isreal which has been witheld from Patriarch Iraneos, His Emminence cannot carry out normal Church financial business or even hold a Visa.
NOTE: This is how the
New York Times has reported on this situation (April 26, 2002) and I have not independently verified any of the statements herein.
I my opinion, based on the religious significance of the City of Jerusalem to three Great Faiths, the most appropriate resolution of the status of Jerusalem is International status.
I am not unmindful of the practical and political problems involved, nor am I naive as to the uses such a Tri-partite Commission could be put, but in my opinion, it is the only solution that is mindful of the ligitimate interests of all three Faiths.
God Bless All.
MegalosSkylaki
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