The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) convened today at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem a high-level conference dedicated to the Arnona property tax issue. Moderated by Mrs. Razan Kafiety, Head of the ACOHL Legal Office, the event brought together Church leaders, legal experts, bishops, vicars, superiors, and representatives of Catholic institutions to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the Church in the Holy Land.
The session opened with a keynote address by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and President of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries, who underlined the critical moment now facing Catholic institutions. His Beatitude emphasized that the status quo regarding the Arnona tax has come to an end, and that change is inevitable. He called for unity under the leadership of the Assembly, stressing the urgent need for institutions to prepare themselves collectively and responsibly for the upcoming changes.
Following the opening, Adv. Farid Jubran, Advocacy and Policy Advisor to ACOHL, presented a comprehensive overview of the Arnona property tax. His presentation provided historical background, outlined the legal framework and relevant exemptions, analyzed the context of the current crisis, and offered clear guidance on best practices to adopt as well as actions to avoid.
Further legal perspective was provided by Advocate Zaki Sahlia, Legal Advisor to ACOHL, who explained the readiness of the Legal Office to accompany institutions throughout the entire process, offering legal aid and practical support to ensure proper compliance while safeguarding the Church’s mission and rights.
The conference concluded with remarks by His Excellency Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, who reaffirmed the importance of coordinated effort and constructive dialogue in addressing the Arnona tax matter.
