In his messages, President Abbas warned against Israel‘s attempt to impose the municipal property tax known as „Arnona“ on churches, describing the move as an unprecedented and flagrant violation of the historic and legal status quo governing the holy sites, as well as a direct attack on the Christian presence and religious institutions in occupied East Jerusalem.

He stressed that Jerusalem enjoys a special legal status under international law, supported by the international community since the 1947 UN Partition Plan, and reiterated that the international community recognizes East Jerusalem as an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

President Abbas also referred to relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including 242, 252, 267, 338, 476, 478, and 2334, which affirm that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible and that all unilateral Israeli measures aimed at altering the character, legal status, demographic composition, or institutions of Jerusalem are null and void and without legal effect.

He emphasized that no measure taken by the occupying power can be interpreted as granting Israel sovereignty or legal jurisdiction over occupied East Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites and endowments.