Patriarch Cleared in Jerusalem Row
By Mohammed Daraghmeh
The Associated Press
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The embattled Greek Orthodox patriarch in Jerusalem was not involved in the long-term lease of prime Jerusalem properties to Jewish settlement groups in the city, the Palestinian Authority concluded Monday, after an investigation of several weeks.
The findings could signal a turning point in the murky saga of the property deals and help the patriarch, Irineos I, cling to his job. It was not clear to what extent the findings might have been influenced by the Palestinian Authority's attempt to wrest the properties from Jewish hands.
Senior Palestinian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, have said that their main objective was to cancel the property transactions and that Irineos had been cooperating with them. Church rebels, including leading Greek Orthodox clergymen in Jerusalem, have been trying to fire Irineos, accusing him of involvement in the transfer of two hotels and other properties in East Jerusalem to groups that seek to expand the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem.
Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as a future capital, and the transactions have angered the church's predominantly Palestinian flock.
Irineos has denied involvement and has refused to leave his post. For the past few weeks, he has been holed up in his apartment in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City, while the rebels have prevented him from entering his office in the compound and have been running day-to-day affairs.