Russia Nears Ownership Transfer of Historic Alexander Courtyard in Jerusalem's Old City

The Russian Embassy in Israel announced that the process to re-register Russian ownership rights over the Alexander Courtyard complex in Jerusalem's Old City is in its final legal stages. However, Israeli officials emphasize that no definitive timeline for completion has been set. The embassy stated the matter is currently "at the legal level only" and nearing conclusion, with a special Israeli inter-ministerial committee established in 2021 actively working on the issue amid regional security and political considerations.

In November 2023, the committee held a hearing with all involved parties, including active Russian participation. Russia now awaits the hearing protocol and updates on next steps in a process ongoing for many years. Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in Moscow noted the issue remains under professional review, with no concrete schedule available. The Alexander Courtyard is a historic Russian site near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, originally purchased in the 19th century by Tsar Alexander II and developed by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

Ownership disputes began after the 1917 Russian Revolution, with ongoing legal and political debates. In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally requested then Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to approve Russian ownership registration. The matter has resurfaced in recent Moscow-Jerusalem talks, reportedly discussed by Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Analysts suggest the legal process could face delays due to upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections but may return to prominence afterward.

For Russia, the courtyard holds significant historical, religious, and symbolic value as part of its heritage in the Holy Land, featuring the Alexander Nevsky Church and Christian sites linked to Golgotha. Finalizing ownership would represent a major diplomatic and cultural achievement for Moscow in Jerusalem. Secret meetings led by Roman Gofman, current Mossad chief and former military secretary to the prime minister, have advanced the issue, with a ministerial team including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Justice Minister Yariv Levin involved.

The courtyard gained attention in 2019 during the imprisonment of Israeli Naama Issachar in Moscow, with speculation that Russian demands for the site were part of her release negotiations, though no evidence confirms this. The 1,300-square-meter property remains under de facto control of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society but is registered under the Ottoman-era name "Russian Empire." In 2020, Netanyahu signed an unusual decree declaring the courtyard a holy site, preventing courts from ruling on its ownership, a move challenged in Israeli courts and currently pending ministerial decisions.

Following the outbreak of war in Gaza in late 2023, the transfer process stalled but was not removed from the agenda. Russia appealed to Israel’s Supreme Court to reinstate ownership registration. Observers note Putin views the courtyard's transfer as a personal priority, with some Israeli political voices warning the move could provoke Western criticism and alienate coalition supporters ahead of elections.