July 13, 2005
Abbas Seeks Ouster of Greek Patriarch
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 2:31 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/interna ... hodox.html
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree Wednesday to dismiss the embattled Greek Orthodox patriarch, who has been embroiled in a battle over Jerusalem land deals with Israelis that have angered Palestinians.
The Palestinian decree further weakens the position of the patriarch, Irineos I, who has been resisting efforts by church officials to oust him. The patriarch's appointment must be backed by three entities -- Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Jordan ordered his dismissal several weeks ago, but Israel has not taken a stand.
Irineos has been criticized for his alleged role in the contentious deals, in which church property in Jerusalem was leased to Jewish groups. Irineos has denied involvement in the transactions and has refused to recognize a decision by church rebels to fire him.
Palestinians object to the transfer of land in east Jerusalem to Israelis. Palestinians claim that part of the city as the capital of the state they hope to establish.
The decree signed by Abbas stated, ''We have decided to issue a decree to dismiss Irineos I from his position as the patriarch of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and to revoke all rights and privileges which go with this position.''
Earlier Wednesday, Irineos, backed by a group of guards, retook control of his office in the church compound Wednesday, police said, setting off a fistfight. Opponents tried to stop him from entering areas of the compound that had been off-limits to him for some time, but police interceded, said police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby.
Archbishop Innocentios, one of the clergy who opposes Irineos, said that despite the move, the rebels would not allow Irineos to fulfill his clerical duties.
''From an ecclesiastical point of view it is finished for us,'' Innocentios said.
