ALBAWABA - The authorities in Israel have been accused of carrying out a "coordinated attack" on the Christian community by initiating a tax probe, according to the leaders of significant Christian churches in Israel.
Both the Greek Orthodox Church and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem have published statements in response to the matter.
Specifically, the statement emphasizes that this project poses a danger to the status quo that has been in place for a long time and indicates a rising intolerance against Christians in Israel. From the Israeli government's perspective, however, the issue is nothing more than a normal financial problem.
Historically, Christian churches have been excused from paying property taxes since there is a significant amount of land that they control. They contend that their resources are committed to providing services that are of use to the general public, such as educational institutions, medical facilities, and care facilities.
Over the course of the last several months, the municipalities of Tel Aviv, Ramla, Nazareth, and Jerusalem have either issued warning letters or begun legal processes in connection with purported tax problems.
