Beside the land in Bethlehem, the Palestinian leadership will transfer 3.5 ha. of land on the Mount of Olives and a plot in the city of Jericho.
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Russia Grows in Holy Lands
The Palestinian National Autonomy has transferred a plot of land in Bethlehem to the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, which is led by head of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin. This is one of the first victories for Russian authorities, who have been lobbying for the return of Russia’s historical property in the Holy Land. Head of the Palestinian Autonomy Mahmoud Abbas gave Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov a package of documents on the transfer of the property to the society, which consists of 1 ha. In exchange, the society has promised to build a middle school for Arab children on the site.
The transfer came as a result of negotiations between Stepashin and Abbas, who last met in Moscow in April of this year. Stepashin told Kommersant that “After that meeting, the Palestinian leadership passed a decision to transfer to the Russian Federation lands that had at one time belonged to the Russian Empire. Beside the land in Bethlehem, the Palestinian leadership will transfer 3.5 ha. of land on the Mount of Olives and a plot in the city of Jericho.” Stepashin said that the society plans to build a Russian cultural center on the Mount of Olives. Stepashin said that the site being transferred in Jericho includes the sycamore of Zacchaeus, referred to in the New Testament in Luke 19.
The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society was founded in 1882 by Emperor Alexander III to encourage pilgrimage to the Holy Land and engage in educational work among the local people. Now its main task is to recover lands lost after the Russian Revolution. Stepashin has headed the society since 2007. The society has been negotiating with the Israeli government as well. Russia expects the return of Sergievsky Guesthouse in Jerusalem in June or July.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 26, 2008
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