In July 2021, the Armenian Patriarchate signed a deal with Israeli real-estate company Xana Gardens to build a hotel on 25% of the land that comprises Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter. This portion of land is known as Goverou Bardez, or, the Cow’s Garden. It has historically served as a sanctuary for Armenian refugees following the Armenian Genocide. The Cow’s Garden is also home to an Armenian church and five family residences.
Following backlash from the Armenian community, the Patriarchate canceled the land deal on October 26, 2023. Since then, Xana Gardens has sent bulldozers and aggressive company representatives to illegally seize the Cow’s Garden.
Armenians have lived in the Armenian Quarter since the fourth century. It is also the oldest Armenian diaspora community in the world. For over 1,600 years, the community has persisted against the construction of Jewish-only settlements in Jerusalem. Armenians, as well as other Jerusalemite Christians, have faced decades of verbal and physical harassment in the city. Extremists regularly vandalize the Armenian Quarter with hateful graffiti, such as, “Death to Arabs and their Armenian Friends” and they also attack Armenian families.
Read full article at: https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/armenian-quarter-of-jerusalem-threatened
