The Christian churches in Israel are defending themselves against what they see as unjustified tax demands.
The most recent cause is the threat of foreclosure on the Armenian Patriarchate, which will go to court in Jerusalem on Monday.
In a letter circulated on Saturday, church leaders of all denominations called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend legal proceedings and negotiate the issue of taxation in the relevant bodies.
The rights of not only Armenians, but also "all other Christian communities in the Holy Land" are at stake.
In recent weeks, a dispute about a traditional tax exemption for organisations that serve religious purposes has resurfaced.
In addition to the Armenians, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which is one of the largest property owners in Israel, also came under fire.
The authorities temporarily blocked church accounts.
Sick pilgrimage tourism
In the current solidarity statement, the church leaders called the amount of Jerusalem municipal tax, the so-called Arnona, demanded by the Armenian Patriarchate "unchecked and grossly exaggerated".
The measures taken by the city administration are "legally dubious and morally unacceptable".
The tax dispute concerns, among other things, facilities that are used for Christian pilgrimage.
During the pandemic and since the beginning of the Gaza war, this industry, which mainly provides an income for Christian and non-Christian Palestinians, has experienced a sharp decline.
The sector is of secondary importance for the Israeli tourism industry.
