JERUSALEM — According to an April 3 communique from the Chancellery of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem posted on Facebook by Chancellor Fr. Aghan Gogchyan, Israeli police forcibly evicted Armenians from the Cow’s Garden property of the Armenian Patriarchate. The French Consulate-General in Jerusalem expressed its concern over the situation in a Tweet on X on April 4 and called on the Israeli authorities to abstain from any unilateral action challenging the status quo in Jerusalem.
The text of the Communique follows.
Today, on April 3, 2024 around 11 o’clock, an unlawful eviction was initiated by Israeli police on the grounds of the Cow’s Garden located within the premises of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The eviction began with the destruction of Armenian Patriarchate property, and assaults on clergy and indigenous Armenians.
The officer leading the eviction was Assaf Harel.
The group of officers were asked to present permits for the eviction, the destruction of property, and physical removal of priests and indigenous Armenians from the premises.
Permits or court orders were NOT presented and they continued to protect and assist the representatives of Xana Gardens in their destruction of property. During attempts to stop the unlawful activity, several members of the police continued to state that they have come with permits without ever presenting them.
