Interesting News on the JP

[PFC Nektarios]

:ohvey:

[Archimandrite Maximos]

Israel to recognize patriarch? 
http://www.ekathimerini.com - 1-19-2004 - An Israeli Cabinet committee recommended yesterday that, 30 months after his election, Israel should recognize the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Ministerís office said.
The committee, headed by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, made the positive recommendation to the government, and the issue will be debated at the next Cabinet meeting, a statement said.
The Greek-born Ireneos I was elected in August 2001, but Israel refused to recognize him, sparking diplomatic protests from Athens. Israel is at odds with the patriarchate ó which owns large tracts of land in Israel and the Palestinian territories ó over land leases and alleged support for the Palestinians by officials close to the patriarch.
Under centuries-old tradition, a new patriarch has to be confirmed by the rulers of the areas where his flock lives ó in Ireneosís case Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Both Jordanians and Palestinians recognized Ireneos shortly after his election. The Greek Orthodox Church is the largest Christian denomination in the Holy Land, with about 100,000 faithful.

V.Rev. Archimandrite Maximos
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher

[George Australia]

Greek Orthodox Patriarch's Anti-Semitic Letter a Forgery

Published in the Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2002

Greek Orthodox Patriarch's Anti-Semitic Letter a Forgery

By Haim Shapiro

JERUSALEM, December 27, 2002 (JP) -- The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is planning to file a complaint with the police over a report in Ma'ariv on Thursday which said that before being elected to his present post, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I had written an anti-Semitic letter to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

The newspaper report came only a day after Israel Radio reported that the government had decided to approve the election of the patriarch, after refusing to do so for a year and a half. Church law requires the approval of the local ruling body, in this case Israel, before a patriarch can take up his post. Speaking at a press conference at the patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Father Gavriel, a spokesman for the patriarchate, said the letter was a forgery, intended to destroy the good relations between the Orthodox Church and the State of Israel.

He said the signature of Irineos was forged and that unlike all official letters from the patriarchate, the one pictured in Ma'ariv had no protocol number. The forgery could have come from elements within the patriarchate, he admitted.

A section of the alleged letter, reproduced in Ma'ariv, was written in English.

"You are finally aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord Jesus Christ, actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists, Jewish conqueror of the Holy Land of Palestine," the alleged section read.

Another passage included a promise to set up a joint property management with the Palestinians for the property of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem. The patriarchate owns vast tracts of lands throughout Jerusalem and the issue of the future of that property is of vital interest to both Israel and the Palestinians.

Gavriel asked why the letter had appeared now, a year and half after it had ostensibly been written, immediately after the report that the government would authorize the election.

Commenting on the report, Rabbi David Rosen, international interfaith director of the American Jewish Committee and an adviser to the government on Christian affairs, said rumors about the letter and other allegations that Irineos I was pro-Palestinian had been investigated by the security services, which reported that they were without foundation.

He was cleared by the Shin Bet six months ago, Rosen said, adding that such a report only does damage to Israeli and Jewish interests.

Referring to a part of the Ma'ariv report which said that the government had agreed to approve the election of the patriarch as a result of pressure by building contractors close to the Likud, Rosen said that on the contrary, it was the Israeli business interests which saw Irineos as an obstacle that were spearheading a campaign of disinformation.

Jerusalem Post/Orthodox News

[George Australia]

Here is possibly the real motivation behind the false accusation:

26/12/2002 Land for Recognition? Forgery against reality?

Valuable Land In Exchange For Recognition of the Patriarch?
JERUSALEM, December 26, 2002 (AP) -- Father Ikonomos Gabriel Nadaf, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Church, holds a copy of the Israeli daily newspaper Maariv during a press conference at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Thursday Dec. 26 2002. Citing sources in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party, the newspaper said the church, which owns valuable land in Jerusalem, including the property on which the Israeli Parliament sits, made promises to Likud operatives in exchange for government recognition of the newly-selected Patriarch. The Greek Orthodox Church has denied the reports in Maariv. The newspaper carries a headline which reads: 'Anti-Semitic appointment scandal.'
associated press/orthodox news

[Archimandrite Maximos]

Irenaios recognized, grudgingly
After 30 months of pressure from Athens, Israel yesterday officially
recognized Patriarch Irenaios I as head of the Greek Orthodox Church in the
Holy Land.

The Greek-born Irenaios was elected patriarch of Jerusalem in August 2001,
succeding Diodoros I, although Israel had tried to block his candidacy.
When, under a 129-year-old Ottoman law, the Patriarchate sought recognition
of its new leader from regional powers - Israel, the Palestinian Authority
and Jordan - Tel Aviv refused to acknowledge Irenaios, citing "security
considerations" and Israeli "interests in Jerusalem." Israeli officials
believed the patriarch was too close to the Palestinians.

Yesterday's decision followed a positive recommendation to the Israeli
government by a Cabinet committee headed by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

"The Greek Orthodox patriarch is, in effect, an ambassador, and just as
Israel cannot except in extreme circumstances veto this or that country's
envoy, the government decided it was time to approve Metropolitan
Irenaios," a Cabinet spokesman said. Israeli political sources said fears
Irenaios might be too pro-Palestinian had now been allayed.

Athens expressed pleasure. "It is with particular satisfaction that the
Greek government salutes the recognition of Irenaios, Patriarch of
Jerusalem," Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis said. "This
recognition, even though belated, justifies the Greek government's efforts."
The Patriarchate owns or leases big areas in Jerusalem, including affluent
parts of the Jewish west and the land on which Israel's president and prime
minister reside. Mindful that its leases on several properties are due to
expire by midcentury, Israel is wary of a pro-Arab patriarch. (Combined
reports)

[Archimandrite Maximos]

27/12/2002

Greek Orthodox Patriarch's Anti-Semitic Letter a Forgery

Published in the Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2002

Greek Orthodox Patriarch's Anti-Semitic Letter a Forgery

By Haim Shapiro

JERUSALEM, December 27, 2002 (JP) -- The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is planning to file a complaint with the police over a report in Ma'ariv on Thursday which said that before being elected to his present post, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I had written an anti-Semitic letter to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

The newspaper report came only a day after Israel Radio reported that the government had decided to approve the election of the patriarch, after refusing to do so for a year and a half. Church law requires the approval of the local ruling body, in this case Israel, before a patriarch can take up his post. Speaking at a press conference at the patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Father Gavriel, a spokesman for the patriarchate, said the letter was a forgery, intended to destroy the good relations between the Orthodox Church and the State of Israel.

He said the signature of Irineos was forged and that unlike all official letters from the patriarchate, the one pictured in Ma'ariv had no protocol number. The forgery could have come from elements within the patriarchate, he admitted.

A section of the alleged letter, reproduced in Ma'ariv, was written in English.

"You are finally aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord Jesus Christ, actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists, Jewish conqueror of the Holy Land of Palestine," the alleged section read.

Another passage included a promise to set up a joint property management with the Palestinians for the property of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem. The patriarchate owns vast tracts of lands throughout Jerusalem and the issue of the future of that property is of vital interest to both Israel and the Palestinians.

Gavriel asked why the letter had appeared now, a year and half after it had ostensibly been written, immediately after the report that the government would authorize the election.

Commenting on the report, Rabbi David Rosen, international interfaith director of the American Jewish Committee and an adviser to the government on Christian affairs, said rumors about the letter and other allegations that Irineos I was pro-Palestinian had been investigated by the security services, which reported that they were without foundation.

He was cleared by the Shin Bet six months ago, Rosen said, adding that such a report only does damage to Israeli and Jewish interests.

Referring to a part of the Ma'ariv report which said that the government had agreed to approve the election of the patriarch as a result of pressure by building contractors close to the Likud, Rosen said that on the contrary, it was the Israeli business interests which saw Irineos as an obstacle that were spearheading a campaign of disinformation.

[mwoerl]

if all the homosexuals, jews, masons, commies were to disappear tomorrow, then who would everything you dont like be blamed on?

mwoerl