Erdogan says Jerusalem ‘red line’, could cut Turkey-Israel ties

December 5, 2017 By administrator

The status of Jerusalem is a “red line” for Turks and could even prompt Turkey to cut ties with Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump mulled whether to recognise the city as the Israeli capital.

Erdogan said Turkey, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), would immediately call a summit meeting of the pan-Islamic group if Trump went ahead with the move.

“Mr Trump! Jerusalem is a red line for Muslims,” Erdogan said in a raucous televised speech to his ruling party that was greeted with chants and applause.

Erdogan said that if such a move was made to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, he would summon a summit of the OIC in Istanbul within five to 10 days “and we would set the entire Islamic world in motion”.

As for Turkey, Erdogan said Ankara would “follow this struggle to the very last moment with determination and we could even go right up to cutting our diplomatic relations with Israel.”

Last year, Turkey and Israel ended a rift triggered by Israel’s deadly storming in 2010 of a Gaza-bound ship that left 10 Turkish activists dead and led to a downgrading of diplomatic ties.

The two sides have since stepped up cooperation in particular in energy but Erdogan, who regards himself a champion of the Palestinian cause, is still often bitterly critical of Israeli policy.

The United States is a strong supporter of a strong relationship between Turkey, the key Muslim member of NATO, and Israel, which is Washington’s main ally in the Middle East.

Erdogan’s comments came after the White House said Trump would miss a deadline to decide on shifting the embassy from Tel Aviv, after a frantic 48 hours of public warnings from allies and private phonecalls between world leaders.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CO-CHAIR MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JERUSALEM

August 25, 2017 By administrator

Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian with Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Co-Chair and Massachusetts Council of Churches President Anthony Barsamian travelled to Jerusalem this month, where he met with religious leaders, including the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian.

“It was an honor meeting with the Armenian Patriarch and Armenians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and holding vibrant discussions with the Armenian community in the Holy Land. The Patriarch made a point to welcome us and encourage Armenian Americans to visit the Armenian Quarter and meet with members of this important Armenian community. His Eminence made sure we had the opportunity to pray with our Christian brothers and sisters at Saints James Cathedral and participate in Divine Liturgy at the tomb of Christ, also known to Armenians as the Holy Resurrection Church and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, while having an opportunity to visit the numerous Armenian shops and enjoy Western Armenian culture which continues to exist since the 4th Century,” Barsamian stated.

The participants visited Srpots Tarkmanchatz (Holy Translators) Armenian School within the Armenian Quarter. They were led by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, a member of the Eastern Diocese Council and Pastor of Holy Translators Church in Framingham, Massachusetts. They had the pleasure of meeting the Gulbenkian Library Director and Principal of the Tarkmanchatz Armenian School, Very Rev. Norayr Kazazian, who reported the number of students at the school has increased from 90 to 180 in recent years.

“This trip to the Holy Land was inspirational and eye-opening. Jerusalem is one of the important centers for us and we should all make an effort to visit the Holy Land and experience the richness of Armenian life unbroken throughout the centuries,” Barsamian added.

During his visit, Barsamian also met with Rabbi David Rosen of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and had the opportunity to join Rabbi Rosen in prayer at the West Wall, where they both reflected upon the need for peace and justice following the protests in Charlottesville.

AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris wrote a letter to President Donald Trump, and stated: “What we witnessed in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday was nothing short of horrifying. It was sickening enough to see people drawn together by the siren songs of white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazism. But however repugnant their views may be, so long as they conducted themselves peacefully, their freedom of speech is protected in our blessed land. But it was abundantly clear that at least some of these racists, anti-Semites, and homophobes came to Charlottesville looking for trouble.”

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, recently held high level meetings with the Israeli Government as relations continue to expand. During his discussion with the Minister of Regional Cooperation of Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, Nalbandian highlighted the deep historical roots between Armenian and Jewish people, “which create a good basis for the development of inter-state cooperation.” They also discussed holding consultations between the foreign ministries, enhancing their collaboration within international organizations, and increasing inter-parliamentary exchanges, as well as developing mutually beneficial cooperation in culture, science, and education.

“I welcome these encouraging trends in Armenia-Israel relations and extend my appreciation to our friends in the American Jewish community who support this development,” Barsamian said.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

JERUSALEM: Trump listened to Armenian choir at Church of the Holy Sepulchre

May 22, 2017 By administrator

Trump listened to Armenian choir at Church of the Holy Sepulchre

JERUSALEM. – U.S. President Donald Trump was welcomed by Archbishop Sevan Gharibian and Samuel Aghoyan, the superior of the Armenian Church at the Sepulchre, during his visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Fr. Koryun Baghdasarian, Head of the Office of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, on Monday told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am, adding that he was also present during the visit.

“The U.S. leader listened to the performance of the Armenian choir and bowed his head. The president exchanged a couple of words with Archbishop and left,” Fr. Koryun said.

Earlier Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian attended welcoming ceremony at the airport.

This is U.S. President’s first visit to Israel after taking the office.

https://youtu.be/1zTwhDWm8JU

Christian pilgrims mark Good Friday in Jerusalem

April 15, 2017 By administrator

Christians from around the world are in Jerusalem commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by following the path in the Old City where, according to tradition, he walked on the way to the cross.

Pilgrims, some carrying large wooden crosses on their backs, packed the narrow cobblestone alleyways of the Old City Friday, chanting prayers.

The Good Friday procession passes along the Way of the Cross, or Via Dolorosa, with 14 stations, each marking an event that befell Jesus on his final journey.

Rituals center on the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christian tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

To note, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is owned by several Christian denominations and secular entities. The main denominations sharing property over parts of the church are the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Roman Catholic, and to a lesser degree the Egyptian Copts, Syriacs and Ethiopians.

Armenian Church Helps Restore Jesus’ Tomb in Jerusalem

June 8, 2016 By administrator

Clerics from the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches have recognized the need to repair Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem. (Photo: AP)

JERUSALEM (BBC) —A team of experts has begun restoring the ancient tomb in Jerusalem where Christians believe Jesus was buried, in the first such works for 200 years.

The renovation in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre aims to reinforce and conserve the structure.

Rivalry between the three denominations that run the church has delayed work.

But clerics from the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches have put aside their differences, recognizing the need to begin repairs.

The work will focus on the Edicule, the ancient chamber housing Jesus’s tomb which Christians say stands above the spot where Jesus’s body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried.

The last restoration work to take place there was in 1810 after a fire.

The Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian authorities are responsible for running different parts of the church but share responsibility for the shrine.

Relations between them can be tense – in 2008, an argument between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks escalated into a brawl – but they have decided to act jointly after Israel’s antiquities authority last year said the church was unsafe and Israeli police briefly closed it.

“We equally decided the required renovation was necessary to be done, so we agreed upon it,” said Samuel Aghoyan, the top Armenian Church official there.

The scientific coordinator for the repairs, Antonia Moropoulou, said the tomb was stable but warped and needed attention after many years of exposure to water, humidity and candle smoke.

“The structure also needed to be protected from the risk of earthquake damage,” she said.

Work is expected to take between eight and 12 months and during that time pilgrims will be able to continue visiting the site, church officials said.

Each denomination is contributing funds for the $3.3m (£2.3m) project. In addition, King Abdullah of Jordan has made a personal donation.

Jordan controlled Jerusalem’s Old City, where the church is located, until the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and continues to play a role in safeguarding Muslim and Christian holy sites there.

Israeli President visits Jerusalem Armenian Patriarch

May 10, 2016 By administrator

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited the Apostolic Armenian Church in Jerusalem‘s Old City on Monday, May 9 morning and met with leaders of the Christian community in Israel. He was welcomed by Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Israel National News reports.

President Rivlin thanked Patriarch Manougian for his and his community’s hospitality.

“A meeting with leaders of your community is always important to me, but during these days, is perhaps even more important,” he said.

“These are difficult times for our city. Terror and death have returned to our streets. The violent attacks all over the city cause growing fear, intolerance and hatred.”

President Rivlin reiterated Israel’s commitment to the values of freedom of worship, and to the well-being of the Christian community which was facing persecution across the Middle East.

ISRAEL: Armenian Genocide 101 commemoration in Jerusalem

April 24, 2016 By administrator

Israel Armenian armenian genocide 101 Some 300 people gathered themselves Saturday in the monastery of St. Jacques in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem and commemorated the 101 anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide.

The ceremony took place after a Mass that was led by the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian, and was attended by leaders of the Armenian community in Jerusalem. The service honored the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian victims killed by Ottoman authorities between 1915 and 1923, primarily in Syria.

Harut Baghamian, one of the organizers of the ceremony, a member of the youth movement Homenetmen and a descendant of refugees of the Armenian Genocide, told the Jerusalem Post that the Armenian community is disappointed with the way Israel treats the memory of the genocide. “It’s not that we deny as in some countries, we do not speak simply” Has he said.

However, Baghamian sees in the Jewish people a partner Armenians. “There are Israeli politicians who expressed their feelings about the genocide in the past, and we appreciate that. But we expect the government to honor its values before politics, “he said.

“We understand that this is a political issue. We receive broad support from the Israeli public. There are many similarities between Armenians and Jews throughout history, so we expect that the Jewish state is the first to recognize and address the issue. Armenians know the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust and hope that the Israeli government will do the same. “

On Sunday, members of the Armenian community and social activists will rotester front of the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem and the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Armenians Protest Israeli Weapon Sales to Azerbaijan

April 15, 2016 By administrator

Armenians-in-Jerusalem-620x300 Jerusalem (ArmRadio)—The Armenian community in Jerusalem today protested Israel’s sale of weapons to Azerbaijan, which are being used against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh region, albawaba.com reports.

Nasser Atta, a producer for ABC News in the Middle East, tweeted some photos and videos from the demonstration (video above), which occurred in front of the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

“Israel supports Azerbaijan’s state terror,” read one sign being held aloft by a protester.

There was a separate protest by Armenian residents of Israel last week at Jerusalem’s Monument of the Armenian Genocide.

Ancient Greek citadel discovered in Jerusalem under a car park

November 4, 2015 By administrator

Acra, the legendary fortress built by Antiochus over 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem, has been unearthed under a parking lot. The lost citadel was considered one of the world’s great unsolved archaeological mysteries.

Those familiar with Jewish traditions will know the name Antiochus, as he was the Greek King who tried to ban Jewish religious rites – and that sparked the Maccabean rebellion. The rebels defeated the Greeks, who starved after a long siege of their stronghold. The victory is remembered with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

This Greek fortress built by Seleucid Emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 BC), called Acra, is mentioned in at least two ancient texts – the Book of Maccabees, which tells of the rebellion, and a written record by historian Josephus Flavius.

Yet archaeologists have puzzled for over a century as to the exact location of this legendary citadel. Many thought it stood in what is now Jerusalem’s walled Old City, a site considered sacred for both the Jews who know it as Temple Mount and the Muslims who hold two holy sites there, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Now “one of Jerusalem’s greatest archaeological mysteries” could be solved, said the Israel Antiquities Authority on Tuesday (03.11.2015). They claimed that this ancient Greek citadel had finally been found – buried under a car park.

The former Givati parking lot is outside the Old City, in a Palestinian neighborhood in occupied east Jerusalem, on what used to be known as the City of David in 168 BC.

“This sensational discovery allows us for the first time to reconstruct the layout of the settlement in the city, on the eve of the Maccabean uprising in 167 BC,” said Doron Ben-Ami, who led the excavation.

A massive wall which could have been the base of a tower was discovered – over 20 meters long (65 feet) and 4 meters wide (12 feet).

Lead sling stones and bronze arrowheads from the period were also found on the site around it. Archaeologists believe they were left over from battles between pro-Greek forces and Jewish rebels trying to take over the fortress.

“This is a rare example of how rocks, coins and dirt can come together in a single archaeological story that addresses specific historical realities from the city of Jerusalem,” Ben-Ami said.

eg/kbm (AFP, Reuters)

Israel The enigma of the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem .

October 29, 2015 By administrator

Jerusalem Watch has four quarters, Jewish, Arab, Christian and Armenian …. The Armenians did not participate in any crusades or holy war in the region, the Armenian population not currently exceeds 8,000,000 in the world … and yet the Armenian community has an area covering one sixth of the area of Jerusalem! The legitimacy of this neighborhood seems down in history without knowing exactly how; While we hear much about the Armenians in Jerusalem. They are so discreet that it is probably the reason why they are resident for some 2000 years. Try to trace some historic landmarks that explain the anchor of this community: There are 2100 years, Armenian empire extends to southern Lebanon and their armies through the region. From that moment a Jewish community settled in Armenia and vice versa in order to develop trade between the two regions. In 70, the Armenians of abo …

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