Jerusalem Municipality Intends to Charge Churches for More than $180 Million

• 02.26.2018, 10:37
•  Near East,  World

The Times of Israel

The Jerusalem municipality intends to recover from the Christian denominations of more than $ 180 million in taxes from real estate located in the city. According to Chelorg.com, this was announced by the mayor Nir Barkat.

Church leaders have accused the city authorities in violation of the long-term «status quo» and in protest have closed for the pilgrims and tourists visiting the Holy sepulcher, one of the main shrines of Christianity, which was erected on the spot where he was executed, buried and risen Jesus.

"The debts of the business premises, belonging to churches, to exceed 650 million shekels (almost 187 million dollars — ed.). We will no longer require the inhabitants of Jerusalem to bear the burden and subsidize this huge debt", - is told in the statement of Barkat.