The leaders of the big Christian churches have accused the Israeli authorities of a "coordinated attack" on the presence of Christians in the country and of initiating tax proceedings against them. The announcement was made by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Greek Orthodox Church.
According to the statement, the move undermines the centuries-old status quo and reflects the growing intolerance towards the presence of Christians in the country. Israeli officials see the disagreement as a routine financial issue. Christian churches are large landowners and say they have a long tradition of not paying property taxes. They say that their funds are directed to services that benefit the state, such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
The municipalities of Tel Aviv, Ramla, Nazareth and Jerusalem have either sent warning letters or launched legal action over alleged tax liabilities in recent months.
