By Daoud Kuttab

An Israel court has sided with the Armenian patriarchate about its ownership of the land of the “Cow Gardens and released the two Armenian activists, Paul Djenazian and Bedig Giragossian, with a simple condition of having to show up to the police station for questioning if they are ordered.

The two Armenians were arrested after they defended the church property, on December 28th  from attack. According to a statement by the Armenian Patriarchate 30 men with their faces covered with ski masks, they have attacked a peaceful Armenian sit-in at the land of the Church causing injury to Armenian priests and the arrest of the two men.

Hagop Djernazian co-founder of the Save Armenian Quater Movement told Milhilard.org that the unidentified gangsters who attacked the priests at the Armenian quarter were acting illegally. “The court ruled that It is absolutely illegal, and the [Xna Capital] company should provide any kind of proof that they are in charge of the land, but as long as they are not providing anything, the possession is for Armenians.”

Djernazian said that the community is pleased with the decision of the Israeli court. “The good thing is that the court ruled that we Armenians possess the land. The possession was done by us and it’s it is a legal one and the company is sending armed thugs to attack us.”

Read statements of the Church and Saving Armenian Quarter Movement below.