Israel postpones controversial church land bill after outcry

Israel has postponed discussions on a bill that would allow the state to seize church lands that have been sold to private developers.

Under pressure from church leaders, the Israeli government on Sunday froze debate on the contentious bill.  

Israel's churches have repeatedly blocked the legislation, claiming it could allow Israel to expropriate valuable properties.

The bill's sponsor, lawmaker Rachel Azaria, says church leaders have misinterpreted the bill. She says she is trying to protect thousands of Israeli residents living in buildings built on leased church lands.

Swathes of Jerusalem are held by various Palestinian churches, in many cases under long-term leases from the state. 

The churches then sublet the properties on the commercial market.

In February, Jerusalem municipality began enforcing tax collection on church property - excluding places of worship.

Separately, Israel's parliament was working on a law that would allow the state to intervene in the resale of leases to commercial property developers. 

Palestinian Christian religious leaders protested by closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site in Jerusalem where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried.

Christian leaders said the measure jeopardised their ability to conduct their work, which includes not only religious but also social services to those in need.

Israeli authorities then froze both the tax measures and the legislation, committing to a dialogue with the churches over the issues.

The majority of Palestinian Christians in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel, and Jordan are Greek Orthodox.

The Greek Orthodox Church is one of the largest property owners in the Holy Land, including the Old City, but has seen growing discontent over the administration of its land leases amid accusations of selling properties to Israeli developers.

Palestinian Christians have played an outsized role in the national movement despite only representing around two to three percent of the population. 


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