The Russian authorities have expressed resentment over Israel’s failure to fulfill its pledge to transfer the ownership right of the Alexander Courtyard in the Old City of Jerusalem to Russia.
According to a statement issued by the Kremlin on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed in January to release Israeli citizen Naama Issachar from a Moscow prison in exchange for transferring the Alexander Courtyard in Jerusalem to Russia.
However, a court in Israel suspended the transfer on April 6 over a competing ownership claim.
The Orthodox Palestine Society in the Holy Land filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the same property.
The Society says it has a court decision recognizing its ownership of the property, stressing that neither Netanyahu nor Russia nor any other party has the right to confiscate it.
The Courtyard is located in the Old City of Jerusalem in close proximity to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Threshold of the Judgement Gate and the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky are located on its territory.
