The ministerial committee for Greek Orthodox Church Patriarchate matters met this morning to discuss Israel's response to the appointment of a new Patriarch.Theophilos was elected patriarch by the Greek Orthodox Synod in 2005, but the Israeli government has not yet approved the appointment.

Israel's approval, together with that of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, is required in order to validate the election. With international pressure being exerted upon Israel in this regard, the Supreme Court has granted the State of Israel another two months in which to consider the issue.

Theophilos is considered to have pro-Israel tendencies, and is certainly more supportive of Israel than his predecessor Irineos, who was a close friend of Yasser Arafat. Irineos has been deposed by the Greek Orthodox Synod, but Israel appears hesitant to recognize this decision.

The Church accuses Israel of making its recognition of Theophilos contingent upon his recognition of a controversial land sale of two years ago. The Church sold two Jaffa Gate hotels and neighboring shops to Jewish interests - but later repudiated the sale. Church sources said that Irineos' trusted financial advisor Nicholas Papedemes made the deal in Irineos' name, and then fled the country. Though Papedemes presented a document signed by Irineos authorizing him to carry out financial deals, Irineos said he never authorized the Jaffa Gate transaction.

A well-known Israeli lawyer has submitted a document to the Supreme Court in which he said he was witness to a meeting between then-Justice Minister Tzachi HaNegbi and Theophilos, in which HaNegbi made Israel's terms quite clear. The lawyer wrote that HaNegbi said that Israel would not recognize him as Church Patriarch unless he officially approves the sale of the Jaffa Gate properties.

The Greek Orthodox Church numbers about 100,000 faithful, most of them Arabs, and is considered the richest church in Israel. The Church Patriarch has responsibility for its extensive land holdings, which include the land on which the Knesset was built, the Prime Minister’s and the President’s official residences, parts of Jerusalem’s wealthiest neighborhoods, and locations in the Old City and in the new Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa.

Irineos' anti-Semitism has been well-documented. On July 17, 2001, Irineos wrote a personal letter to Arafat, saying, "You are aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine." In the letter, he asks Arafat for his support, promising that if he is elected head of the church, "rest assured, Mr. President, that the rights of our most beloved Palestinian people on the Holy City of Jerusalem will find the most 'hot' supporter."

Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen, who spoke with a leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, was shown copies of letters by Greek Orthodox Church leaders in Canada, Britain, Russia, Finland and other countries - all expressing support for Theophilos and puzzlement at Israel for not recognizing him. Pope Benedictus has also written to this effect, as have Dr. Samuel Kobia of the World Council of Churches, Pentagon official Patrick Theros, and 25 U.S. Senators.

The ministerial committee on Patriarchal affairs is manned by Ministers Avi Dichter and Tzipi Livni of Kadima, Shalom Simchon and Eitan Cabel of Labor, and Yitzchak Cohen of Shas. Attempts to reach them for comment were unsuccessful.