18 December 2007
More than two years after he was sworn in as the Greek Orthodox patriarch in Jerusalem, Theofilos III has finally won the approval of the Israeli government, putting an end to a lengthy dispute between the two sides. Theofilos’ predecessor, Irineos I, was ousted in May 2005 after allegations that he leased church land in east Jerusalem to Jewish groups interested in expanding their presence in the Arab section. The long-term leases enraged the church's predominantly Palestinian members. Theofilos petitioned Israel's Supreme Court to get the state to recognize him, since under church rules he must be approved by all governments in the areas where his congregation lives – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority-controlled territories. The latter two immediately approved, but Israel deferred, awaiting word from a committee it established to examine the appointment.
Over the past two years, Israel neither recognized the naming of Theofilos, nor the removal of Irineos, who still resides in the same Jerusalem Old City compound as his replacement while openly challenging Theofilos’ authority. Irineos never officially resigned and continued to enjoy the support of Israel – who invited him to official events and provided him with police protection. The Israeli government finally approved Theofilos by a vote of 10 to 3.
