Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is demanding that Israeli government hands over the Alexander Courtyard to it as promised by the previous administration.
Putin made the demand in a letter delivered to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last Sunday.
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In a report by the Jerusalem Post, Putin’s letter came barely 24 hours after the Foreign Ministry in Moscow accused Isreal of using Ukraine as a cover up for its own conflict with the Palestinians.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi for a reprimand last Sunday.
Russia taking over the church land could lead to diplomatic trouble for Israel at a time when its Western allies – the United States, United Kingdom have been sanctioning Russia over its invasion of Ukraine since March.
The Alexander Courtyard, also known as the Alexander Nevsky Church and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.
Recall that former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu while in office had promised Putin that Russia could take over the landmark in 2020, an exchange to help free Naama Issachar, an Israeli woman held in a Russian jail on drug charges.
This was activated after, Israel’s Land Registry commissioner listed the Russian government as the owner of the church.
The current Russian government, sued, arguing that the transfer of ownership was political. Kaduri said that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett would have to decide, because it is a diplomatic matter.
Former Russian prime minister Sergei Stepashin, chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, said during a visit to Israel in recent days that Russia is “fighting for a return of the compound, and it is very difficult.”
Stepashin accused Israel of “playing both sides, playing ping pong” on the issue.
