Russia’s embassy in Israel says the process of registering ownership rights to Jerusalem’s historic Alexander Courtyard in Russia’s name is nearing completion, while Israeli officials are cautioning that it is too early to establish a timetable for any transfer.

According to the Russian Embassy, the process is awaiting the protocol from a hearing held by an Israeli interministerial committee at the end of 2025. Israel’s embassy in Moscow, however, said the issue remains under review by the relevant professional authorities and that no concrete timeline has been established.

The historic compound spans approximately 1,300 square meters in a strategic location near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and includes the Alexander Nevsky Church, which was inaugurated in 1896.

The property was purchased in the 19th century by Russian Emperor Alexander II but has been under the de facto control of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society since 1890. A long-running legal and diplomatic dispute over ownership emerged following the Russian Revolution in 1917.

In 2020, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an order recognizing the compound as a holy site. Foreign reports at the time also linked the issue to the case of Naama Issachar, an Israeli who was detained in Russia and later released following Netanyahu’s intervention.

The dispute has repeatedly surfaced in talks between Moscow and Jerusalem in recent years and has been raised personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin with Israeli prime ministers.

At the end of 2024, Netanyahu renewed the work of a ministerial team examining the potential transfer of ownership to the Russian Federation. The team includes Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, while the National Security Council and Prime Minister’s Office have also been involved.

For Moscow, control of the site is viewed as a significant symbolic, diplomatic and cultural achievement. However, the process could face further delays amid Israel’s expected Knesset elections and potential public and diplomatic opposition to the move.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)