Palestinian president urges Jerusalem churches to reject Israeli municipal tax, warns of threat to Christian presence

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday urged churches and Christian institutions in occupied East Jerusalem to reject Israeli efforts to impose the municipal property tax known as “Arnona,” warning that the move threatens the city’s Christian presence and its historic and legal status. “Arnona” is an Israeli municipal property tax levied on real estate based on its size, location and use. Palestinians in East Jerusalem also refer to it as the “area tax,” and it is considered one of the main financial burdens imposed on residents. Abbas sent letters to Pope Leo XIV, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several European leaders regarding the situation in Jerusalem and what […]