Irineos Update
A suit against the controversial appointment of Irineos as Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch in Israel has been rejected - but the appointment is still in limbo. This, because of a dramatic and almost unprecedented judicial step taken by Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin.
This past Thursday, a three-justice panel ruled that the appointment of Irineos - a known anti-Semite with strong ties with Yasser Arafat - has diplomatic ramifications, and that therefore the Court wishes not to intervene. The Court thus dismissed serious charges brought by Yosef Laufer regarding Irineos' ties with the PA leadership and claims of blackmail, threats and bribery. Laufer also cited
letters written by Irineos noting the "sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulcher fathers feel for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine..." and promising that if chosen as Patriarch, "rest assured, Mr. President [Arafat], that the rights of our most beloved Palestinian people on the Holy City of Jerusalem will find the most 'hot' supporter."
Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, who voted against the appointment, expressed his concern at the time that "two years ago, all the professional elements, such as the Shabak and the police, objected to Irineos - but now, suddenly, none of them are willing to open their mouths... All of a sudden, no one has an opinion - not the police, not the Shabak, not the Prime Minister's Office, and not the Jerusalem Municipality. This is very mysterious." Despite this, the three-judge panel, as noted, dismissed the suit and its charges, and instructed the government to issue the official appointment to Irineos, in accordance with its decision of January 25.
Then Justice Cheshin stepped in. Only a few hours after the above decision, and while Irineos and cronies were in the midst of celebrating it, Cheshin ordered it suspended - on the grounds stated in another suit brought against it. A Greek Orthodox Christian living in the Galilee, Yusuf Naaman Nasser, had claimed that the appointment of a man who is "corrupt and devoid of moral values" at the head of his church was a violation of his religious rights. Justice Cheshin ruled that Nasser could re-submit his appeal of the decision by this coming Sunday, and that the government would then have 15 more days to respond.
Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen reports that elements in the Greek Orthodox Church are now "agitatedly" bringing up issues such as real estate deals in Cyprus, and others with a Nazareth businessman named Bedia Tanus, to the tune of millions of dollars - money that never reached the Greek Orthodox Church coffers.
It has also been noted that parts of the Greek island that David Appel wished to purchase belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Appel has been indicted on charges of trying to bribe Prime Minister Sharon in regards to this purchase. Sharon, though he has not been indicted for accepting these bribes, has long favored the controversial appointment of Irineos as Patriarch of the Church. Appel is similarly accused of bribing Trade Minister Ehud Olmert when the latter served as Mayor of Jerusalem. The suspicion is that Appel's financial support for Olmert when the latter ran for Knesset came in exchange for Olmert's help in connecting Appel with Greek officials.
Welfare Minister Orlev, who, as noted, objected to Irineos' appointment, was asked at the time whether, in his opinion, "real estate elements close to the Prime Minister are the ones who are pushing for the appointment." Orlev said, "Questions of this nature must be directed to the Prime Minister himself."
A suit against the controversial appointment of Irineos as Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch in Israel has been rejected - but the appointment is still in limbo. This, because of a dramatic and almost unprecedented judicial step taken by Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin.
This past Thursday, a three-justice panel ruled that the appointment of Irineos - a known anti-Semite with strong ties with Yasser Arafat - has diplomatic ramifications, and that therefore the Court wishes not to intervene. The Court thus dismissed serious charges brought by Yosef Laufer regarding Irineos' ties with the PA leadership and claims of blackmail, threats and bribery. Laufer also cited
letters written by Irineos noting the "sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulcher fathers feel for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine..." and promising that if chosen as Patriarch, "rest assured, Mr. President [Arafat], that the rights of our most beloved Palestinian people on the Holy City of Jerusalem will find the most 'hot' supporter."
Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, who voted against the appointment, expressed his concern at the time that "two years ago, all the professional elements, such as the Shabak and the police, objected to Irineos - but now, suddenly, none of them are willing to open their mouths... All of a sudden, no one has an opinion - not the police, not the Shabak, not the Prime Minister's Office, and not the Jerusalem Municipality. This is very mysterious." Despite this, the three-judge panel, as noted, dismissed the suit and its charges, and instructed the government to issue the official appointment to Irineos, in accordance with its decision of January 25.
Then Justice Cheshin stepped in. Only a few hours after the above decision, and while Irineos and cronies were in the midst of celebrating it, Cheshin ordered it suspended - on the grounds stated in another suit brought against it. A Greek Orthodox Christian living in the Galilee, Yusuf Naaman Nasser, had claimed that the appointment of a man who is "corrupt and devoid of moral values" at the head of his church was a violation of his religious rights. Justice Cheshin ruled that Nasser could re-submit his appeal of the decision by this coming Sunday, and that the government would then have 15 more days to respond.
Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen reports that elements in the Greek Orthodox Church are now "agitatedly" bringing up issues such as real estate deals in Cyprus, and others with a Nazareth businessman named Bedia Tanus, to the tune of millions of dollars - money that never reached the Greek Orthodox Church coffers.
It has also been noted that parts of the Greek island that David Appel wished to purchase belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Appel has been indicted on charges of trying to bribe Prime Minister Sharon in regards to this purchase. Sharon, though he has not been indicted for accepting these bribes, has long favored the controversial appointment of Irineos as Patriarch of the Church. Appel is similarly accused of bribing Trade Minister Ehud Olmert when the latter served as Mayor of Jerusalem. The suspicion is that Appel's financial support for Olmert when the latter ran for Knesset came in exchange for Olmert's help in connecting Appel with Greek officials.
Welfare Minister Orlev, who, as noted, objected to Irineos' appointment, was asked at the time whether, in his opinion, "real estate elements close to the Prime Minister are the ones who are pushing for the appointment." Orlev said, "Questions of this nature must be directed to the Prime Minister himself."