The Orthodox Truth Group said in a statement today, Friday, that “all the projects undertaken by the Patriarchate of the Undeserving Theophilus only serve the interest of settlement and the Zionist project and harm the Palestinian dream and its humble economy, and this is no longer a surprise to anyone or a secret to anyone.”

She added, “After the leakage of the endowments inside and outside the Green Line, which included thousands of dunams, the Israeli press and websites informed us of a new, old project in East Jerusalem called ‘Talpiot Hadasha’, which is adjacent to the land of the Saint Elias Monastery. What is new in this project is the role of the patriarchate in the dirtiest of its predecessors.” The project".

She continued, “After the Patriarchate was the one that leaked the land on which the settlements were built, it is transformed here in this project into the executive arm for the establishment of this proposed settlement, as it is the initiator of the construction maps submitted to the occupation municipality in Jerusalem to hide the names of all the Jewish and foreign companies implementing and owning the largest part of the project.” But why is the patriarchy playing this role this time?

The Orthodox Truth Group confirmed that “this settlement project established in the territories occupied in 1967 will inevitably meet with opposition and denunciation from most countries in the world, the most important of which are the European market countries that oppose the establishment of every settlement in these areas.” It is certain that putting the name “patriarchate” comes in an attempt to show the project as a non-Israeli project, and that the party implementing it is affiliated with the Palestinian people!”

She explained, “According to official documents, the real owners of the project are the ‘Bereket Givat Talpiot Hahadasha’ company registered in Israel, and the ‘Diani Holdings’ company registered in Malta. The project acquires 140 dunums and 600 square meters of Patriarchal property that was allocated to the two aforementioned companies.

She indicated that the submitted planning includes 3,500 residential units, three hotels, and their facilities, including gardens, halls, swimming pools, and shops related to tourism, with a capacity of 1,300 rooms. The planning also includes the construction of public buildings, including religious buildings for Jews only, namely five synagogues and a bathhouse for religious Jews.

She stressed that “this settlement project once again confirms the weakness of the Patriarchate’s connection to its people and their aspirations, and also confirms its ceaseless endeavor to liquidate the properties and elements of its strength and continuity in exchange for scraps of money whose fate is unknown. In this project, the Patriarchate challenges the position of the majority of the international system, including the American position.” From building settlements on the lands occupied in 1967, in addition to the political dimension of this project, it aims to bring about a demographic change within the policy of the occupation municipality in Jerusalem, and to surround Beit Safafa to prevent its natural expansion, just as the goal of constructing the old Abu Ghneim Street was specifically to prevent the expansion of Sur Baher. Sharafat neighborhood.

The Orthodox Truth Group continued, “This project also aims to encircle Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala and strangle them economically by depriving them of the ability to live on the tourism sector, and the most important of which is hospitality, that is, the complete elimination of the Palestinian Christian economy in that region, where a project is also underway these days.” To transform the facilities of the historic Monastery of Saint Elias into a hotel.”

It touched on the response of the Patriarchate of Theophilus from January 15, after the Israeli press addressed it, where he said, “This project aims to provide hundreds of housing units for members of Christian sects,” while official documents from 2020 indicate that the Patriarchate’s share is 150 housing units. Only out of 3,500 in the plans, while 50 of them were sold, meaning that what remains for the Patriarchate is 100 units out of 3,500.

She explained that “the Patriarchate’s policy is compatible with settlement, and there is no need to elaborate on it. It is sufficient to mention that the nucleus of the ‘Givat Hamatos’ settlement (the land of Tabaliyah) is established on Patriarchate land and a checkpoint before Rachel (Barrier 300) and the old and new Abu Ghneim streets, and years ago the occupation rented A piece of Beit Jala land adjacent to the apartheid wall, to which is added the entire street network in that area.”

The Orthodox Truth Group concluded its statement by saying, “Theophilus and what he embodies has become a symbol of corruption, and an arm for settlement and the general liquidation of church endowments in Jerusalem, especially in historic Palestine. Our eyes have narrowed and our ears have become deaf from reading and hearing the patriarchate and its absurdity. The demand of the hour is for every honorable individual, cleric, and body to rise up.” And an international and national institution, by assuming their humanitarian, national and religious responsibilities, by taking their required role in holding the corrupt Theophilus and his henchmen accountable and removing them from the patriarchate. And whoever seeks to raise the Palestinian flag over the walls, mosques and churches of Jerusalem, and who claims custodianship of the holy places in Jerusalem, cannot ignore Theophilus’ crimes against truth. The Palestinian there.”