JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – The recent violent attack on the Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem by armed mobs associated with an Israeli-Australian businessman has sparked condemnation from the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. The institute is calling for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Armenian Quarter and urging respect for the will of its residents who are resisting the forcible development of their land.
The attack took place on December 28, 2023, when an armed mob, reportedly linked to the businessman, targeted the historical area known as Goveroun Bartez (the “Cows’ Garden”), leaving several Armenians injured, including a priest and students of the Theological Seminary. Despite the arrests of two Armenian residents by Israeli police, none of the attackers were apprehended. This incident is the latest in a series of events following the cancellation of a controversial land development deal in November, which was initially meant to grant rights to build a luxury hotel on the property, leading to the destruction of many historic buildings in the area.
Prior to the attacks in the Armenian Quarter, there were other instances of harassment by Israeli extremists against Jerusalemite Armenians, including an attack on an Armenian restaurant in the Christian Quarter of East Jerusalem. These incidents, coupled with coercive construction in the Cows’ Garden, pose a serious threat to the Armenian community in East Jerusalem. The Lemkin Institute has pointed out the alarming context of the attacks, occurring amidst the ongoing genocide against Palestinians and the push for a homogenized Jewish ethnostate in Palestinian territories.
The Institute stressed the need for international organizations and the UN to monitor the situation in the Armenian Quarter and ensure the safety and territorial integrity of the neighborhood and its inhabitants. It also emphasized the significance of recognizing and responding promptly to warning signs in order to prevent further escalation against Armenians.
In conclusion, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has called for the protection of the Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem and the safety of its residents. The recent violent attack and ongoing threats pose an existential danger to the oldest Armenian Diaspora community in the world, warranting immediate international attention and intervention.