Russian Church Disputes 1972 Land Deal on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
The Russian Church is contesting the 2023 registration of land rights on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives for the company "Nachalat HaNevaim." The church claims a 1972 sale was incomplete, with only partial payment made and missing documentation. It also questions the current company's identity as the original buyer. The dispute involves a plot partially used as a cemetery, but the church is not seeking to disturb existing graves. The case will determine the legal ownership of the land.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Russian Church disputes 2023 land rights registration for Nachalat HaNevaim on Mount of Olives.
- Church claims 1972 sale was incomplete, with partial payment and missing documents.
- Dispute questions if current Nachalat HaNevaim is the original 1972 buyer.
- The contested land includes a portion of an active cemetery.
- Russian Church seeks legal status of land, not cemetery eviction.
A new land dispute has emerged on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives concerning a plot of approximately 2.8 dunams. The Russian Church is challenging the 2023 registration of land rights in favor of the company "Nachalat HaNevaim" ("Inheritance of the Prophets"). The church argues that the current owner has not proven the legality of their rights to the land, centering the case on a 1972 transaction.
According to the church's position, the land was sold in 1972 to a Liechtenstein-registered company for $130,000, but the buyer allegedly paid only $110,000. The lawsuit claims that documents definitively confirming the completion of the sale are missing. Furthermore, the church questions whether the current "Nachalat HaNevaim" is the same legal entity that acquired the land over fifty years ago. The dispute thus involves not only the full payment of the purchase but also the current rightful ownership stemming from that transaction.
The situation is complicated by the current use of the land, part of which is occupied by the active "Nachalat HaNevaim" cemetery. The church's lawsuit indicates that about 30% of the territory has not yet been sold or allocated for burials, and this portion is central to the ownership dispute. The Russian Church explicitly states it is not seeking the eviction of the cemetery or the relocation of existing graves, but rather the legal status of the land itself and its registration.
The Mount of Olives is a significant historical and religious site in Jerusalem, home to a large Jewish cemetery and historically a place of presence for multiple Christian denominations. Russian church structures have owned property in Jerusalem since the 19th century, establishing important sites on the Mount of Olives. This dispute, therefore, touches upon property in a highly sensitive area where land rights and usage have been shaped over decades.
The Russian Church's claims and legal stance are currently under review. The cancellation of the registration has not yet been granted by the court, and the ultimate ownership of the 2.8-dunam plot will be determined through further legal proceedings.