JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has denounced a recent violent attack on the Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem, calling for the protection of its cultural heritage and the safety of its residents. The attack, carried out by armed mobs associated with an Israeli-Australian businessman, left several Armenians injured and sparked outrage among the local community.
The incident took place on December 28, 2023, when a group of around thirty people attacked the historical area known as Goveroun Bartez, also known as the “Cows’ Garden”. According to local activists, the attackers were linked to Israeli-Australian businessman Danny Rubenstein. The Armenians have been resisting a controversial land development deal that would have allowed Rubenstein’s company to build a luxury hotel on the property, destroying important historic buildings in the area.
The cancellation of the land development deal in November by the Armenian Patriarchate led to a series of violent incidents targeting the Armenian community in Jerusalem. This includes the recent attack on an Armenian restaurant in the Christian Quarter. These recurring attacks and the ongoing land dispute pose a significant threat to the Armenian Diaspora community in Jerusalem, which is one of the oldest in the world.
Amid the backdrop of a tense political climate in Israel, the Institute has called on international organizations and the United Nations to monitor the situation in the Armenian Quarter and ensure the safety of its residents. It emphasized the need to recognize and respond to warning signs of potential mass atrocities and genocide, and expressed full support for the resistance of the Jerusalemite Armenians.
To prevent further escalation of violence against Armenians, the Institute stressed the importance of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Armenian Quarter and the rest of East Jerusalem by all necessary means. The situation in the Armenian Quarter is concerning not only for the local community but also for the potential implications on the wider issue of cultural preservation and protection of minority communities in the region.
The Lemkin Institute has reiterated its call to protect the cultural heritage of the Armenian Quarter and to respect the will of its residents, who continue to resist the forcible development of their land. It remains essential for relevant authorities to address the situation promptly and ensure the safety and integrity of the 1600-year-old neighborhood and its inhabitants.