Plans to build a luxury hotel could destroy part of East Jerusalem’s historical Armenian quarter

In a corner of Jerusalem’s old city near the Cathedral of St James the fight for this plot of land has become tied to the future of the Armenian quarter basically we are fighting for our existence people think that it’s just a regular parking lot not it’s not a regular parking lot

This is land that we owe for we are the owners of it for more than 700 years this is the spot where survivors of the Armenian Genocide found a safe haven more than 100 years ago but in 20 21 a Jewish Australian investor signed a deal with a representative of the Armenian

Clergy to build a luxury hotel now activists are trying to save this historic land from Demolition we built this fence to prevent from the bulldozers to enter and to take over illegally members of The Armenian Community say the deal is illegitimate because they weren’t properly consulted some of them like hagop gazan

Sleep in tents keeping watch day and night over the parking lot he accuses the company behind the project S capital of sending a mob to scare local residents away late last week they uh confessed that they received money from the company from the zena company uh in order to come and

Attack Armenians and to try to take over illegally the land that Armenians are defending a senior representative of Zana Capital didn’t respond to our requests for an interview Jewish extremists have also ramped up their attacks on the old City’s Armenian population ever since a far-right government came to power in Israel just

Over a year ago holy places are being vandalized by settlers and extremist uh and extremists uh um clergy uh are being attacked community members are being uh attacked and all this happened recently in the past uh one year after a presence stretching back more than 1,600 years Jerusalem’s Armenians

Are more determined than ever to hold on to their land

Activists say a controversial deal to build a luxury hotel could destroy part of East Jerusalem’s historical Armenian quarter, accusing the company behind the plan of paying people to seize land by force. As Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on Saturday, those who call Jerusalem’s Old City home say they are worried for their future. FRANCE 24’s Andrew Hilliar and Melina Huet report. 

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23 comments

  5. This news video is leaving out important facts. The contract is between the Armenian denomination and the developer and is for a long term lease- ownership of the land will remain in Armenian hands. The development will convert a parking lot – an eyesore- into a luxury hotel whose design will blend in with the surrounding historical architecture. The Armenian community will receive lease payments to fund its operations so it benefits.

  6. But but, weren't jews there before, 10,000 years ago? Wasn't that land given to the jews by God himself?

  11. I feel like so much of this story is being left out and causing confusion. I dont understand, why be so defensive of a parking lot?? I mean, i dont get a say in my community when city hall decides to build a store on a parking lot? So what's the issue? i tried finding more info online and a report included that the hotel would actually require the destruction of private homes. Is this true? Why wasnt that piece inlcuded in the story/interview? That surely is a huge deal and definitely illegal/immoral. Generally so confused with this story

  15. Someone gave this Armenian representative the right to sign that deal. If he was given the rights to sign that deal its a stretch to say its "illegal". Take it to court FFS

  17. Israel can do whatever they want with jerusalem. It has only ever been their capital and will never be part of any possible 2 state solution.

  22. Ah yes israel. Helping azerbaijan and turkey to ethnically cleanse nagorno-karabakh of armenians and now this. Why so much hate?

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