LETTER OF H.B. PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL REGARDING GIHON COMPANY.

Your Excellency,

In an unprecedented act, the Israeli water utility company, “Gihon”, imposed a “Charge” of millions of shekels upon the bank accounts of Our Patriarchate thus rendering them frozen and inactive.

This was conducted by the administration staff of Gihon Company, in a move which totally disregards and undermines the sanctity as well as the sensitivity of the Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre.

Imposing such an unjust act amounts to an attempt to change the De-facto situation which constitutes a fundamental breach of the “Status Quo”, legally existing for centuries, that guards the Holy Sepulchre and, for hundreds of years, grants the use of free water supply servicing the millions of pilgrims that journey to the Holy Land.

We gravely fear such acts as they may impact the pilgrim’s customary practices and lead to the unimaginable closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

We call out for Your Excellency’s immediate intervention to cause the upholding of the Status Quo and to stop this offensive conduct against the sacred Holy Sepulchre of Jesus Christ, the most ancient and holy shrine for Christians of the World.

With best wishes and Patriarchal blessings,

THEOPHILOS III,

PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM.