Abbas Dismisses Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos 1
Jordan Ordered His Dismissal Weeks ago, Israel Is Still Studying the Issue
14 July 2005

Palestine Media Center - PMC Official PA wesbite
www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=933

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on Wednesday officially
endorsing an earlier decision by the Council of Ministers for the dismissal
of the ousted Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos 1, who has been
embroiled in a battle over Jerusalem land deals with Israelis that have
angered Palestinians.

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."

The decree was issued in accordance with the law of the Orthodox
Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Land No. 27 of year 1958, and it was
pursuant to the dismissal of Irineos 1 by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox
Patriarchate.

"We confirm the ouster of the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos I, and
the give-up of his seat, and divest him from all his rights and privileges
related to his position," the decree said, as reported by the Palestinian
official news agency WAFA.

President Abbas instructed all institutions of the Palestinian National
Authority (PNA) to enforce the decree as of the date of its issuance and to
annul all that is contrary thereto.

A day earlier, Irineos backed by a group of guards retook control of his
office in the church compound in the Israeli-occupied Jerusalem on
Wednesday, 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 the Israeli police interceded, said police spokesman Shmuel
Ben-Ruby.

Irineos, in a statement published by Al-Quds daily on Wednesday claimed that
a PNA committee probing the controversial property transactions has
established his innocence, but his claim has yet to be confirmed officially
by the PNA.

He appealed to long-standing Arab complaints against the Greek monopoly of
the church's top hierarchy by offering more senior positions to Arab clergy
and more involvement by Arabs in managing the church's property and finances
in a "transparent" manner, the statement promised.

He also referred to Israel's delay of his endorsement for more than two
years to clear his "national" credentials.

The patriarch's appointment must be ratified by three entities: The
Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Jordan and Israel.

Jordan ordered his dismissal several weeks ago, but Israel has yet to take a
stand.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said a government committee
studying the issue has yet to made a recommendation, AP reported.

Irineos has denied involvement in the transactions that enraged the
Palestinians and has refused to recognize a decision by church rebels to
fire him.

Archbishop Innocentios, one of the clergy who opposes Irineos, said that
despite his move on Wednesday, the rebels would not allow Irineos to fulfill
his clerical duties.

"From an ecclesiastical point of view it is finished for us," AP quoted
Innocentios as saying.

Reports of the church property "leases" have aroused the furor of the
Palestinians who make up most of the flock.

Clerics at the Patriarchate and other world Orthodox leaders have stopped
recognizing the authority of Irineos as a result of the affair.

However, Irineos continues to resist demands that he step aside, saying a
former aide signed the leases in a tricky way without his knowledge.