RAMALLAH, February 27, 2018 (WAFA) – The West Jerusalem Municipality Tuesday decided to suspend the collection actions it has taken in recent weeks that are related to Israeli taxes imposed on properties owned by Jerusalem churches that are not houses of worship.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the West Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat reportedly agreed to establish “a professional team led by Israeli Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, with the participation of all relevant parties, to formulate a solution for the issue of municipal taxes on properties owned by churches that are not houses of worship.”
In a press release, Netanyahu and Barkat agreed to form a professional team that includes representatives of the ministries of finance, foreign affairs among others, in order to formulate a solution to the issue of municipal taxes.
The team is expected to negotiate with the representatives of the churches to resolve the issue.
In addition, following a request by the heads of the churches to enter negotiations regarding the sale of land in Jerusalem, Netanyahu asked Israeli minister Hanegbi to examine the issue and at the same time, “all legislative activity on the matter will be suspended.”
M.H.
