The Jerusalem Municipality is trying to impose taxes on the commercial property of the Armenian Patriarchate. The issue is currently in the legal process. In response to Radar Armenia's inquiry, the Office of the Diaspora Commissioner of the Prime Minister's Office said.

We asked the office what stage the process is at now.

"The decisions submitted by the Municipality have been subject to legal review by the Patriarchate, and the relevant processes are still ongoing. The tax liabilities have arisen over a long period, and according to various estimates, it is significant. The issue is still under discussion, and no final assessment or approved amount can be specified at this time," the office said.

The response states that the authorized bodies of the RA Government are constantly in touch with the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and relevant departments to monitor the situation continuously and, if necessary, take appropriate steps.

It is noted that the property unit under the administration of the Patriarchate is diverse, including religious and community-related structures and a number of auxiliary properties, including educational, residential, and other public buildings.

In February, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Archbishop Nurhan Manukyan, wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the arnona (municipal property tax) issue.

According to Aghan Gogchyan, the head of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in the letter, the patriarch urged the prime minister to intervene and stop the Municipality's actions against the Patriarchate and to resume meetings of the government committee he appointed to find a solution to the problem.

The Jerusalem city authorities want to seize the Armenian Patriarchate's property, arguing that the religious institution has not paid the tax accumulated from renting its premises since 1994. The Patriarchate claims that the city authorities' demand is unfounded.

It should be noted that the Armenian community in Israel is about 6,000.