Israel is once again negotiating with Russia about the fate of the Alexander Courtyard

Negotiations between Russia and Israel regarding the transfer of the Alexander Courtyard in Jerusalem have once again come into focus. The discussion involves a complex that includes the Church of Alexander Nevsky in the Old City and a process that has been ongoing for almost ten years, navigating through changes in governments, lawsuits, and major geopolitical shifts.

The discussion on this issue began back in 2015. The then Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, initiated the procedure for formalizing the rights of the Russian Federation to the property. Documents were submitted to the Israeli side, including the Ministry of Justice, and the practical stage of re-registration started in December 2019.

What is happening now

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the possibility of completing the process is still being considered. It is emphasized that the final decision directly depends on the political context and current relations between the countries.

Formally, the issue remains open. The legal framework has been assembled, diplomatic channels are not closed, but any progress requires agreement at the level of the Israeli government.

The paragraph is short because the essence is simple: the decision is political.

History of the conflict around the courtyard

The transfer of the Alexander Courtyard to Russia initially faced serious resistance. The Orthodox Palestine Society of the Holy Land filed a lawsuit against the re-registration of the complex, claiming its legal rights to the property.

In 2020, the Russian Embassy in Israel publicly declared its intention to defend the interests of the Russian Federation, including through legal mechanisms. The conflict moved into the legal arena and became the subject of consideration by Israeli authorities.

Court decision and its consequences

In March 2022, the Jerusalem District Court rejected the claims for the transfer of the courtyard, recognizing the legal grounds of the Orthodox Palestine Society of the Holy Land. This decision effectively froze the process and returned the issue to the level of the executive branch.

Importantly, the court did not put a final point. According to Israeli law, such objects, having international and religious significance, can be the subject of a political decision by the government.

The Ukraine factor

In the spring of 2022, the process was officially suspended. The Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, Sergey Stepashin, directly linked the pause to the war in Ukraine and the sharp deterioration of the international situation.

According to him, even the presence of historical documents and archival confirmations did not allow progress in conditions where Russia’s relations with Western countries, including Israel’s partners, entered a phase of crisis.

This moment became a turning point.

Signals of possible progress

Despite the freeze, the topic did not disappear completely. In June 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced progress and noted that the Israeli side understands the importance of the issue for Moscow.

The statement was not accompanied by specific deadlines or decisions but was perceived as a signal of maintaining dialogue.

Return of the topic in 2024

A new impetus to the discussion was given in November 2024. Sergey Stepashin reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the topic of the Alexander Courtyard.

According to him, this creates grounds to hope for the resumption of substantive discussions, albeit without guarantees of a quick result. At the moment, it is more about political probing than a ready solution.

Why the issue remains sensitive

The Alexander Courtyard is not just real estate. It is a point of intersection of religion, history, diplomacy, and symbolic presence in Jerusalem. Any decision on such an object inevitably causes a reaction not only within Israel but also beyond its borders.

This is why the process has dragged on for years, and every statement is carefully analyzed both in Moscow and Jerusalem.

Conclusion

Negotiations on the transfer of the Alexander Courtyard to Russia formally continue but remain in limbo. Court decisions, the war in Ukraine, and the political sensitivity of Jerusalem make a quick outcome unlikely.

Nevertheless, the very fact of the topic’s return to the agenda of the Israeli leadership indicates that the issue is not completely closed. Its development continues to be monitored by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, recording how historical disputes are woven into modern geopolitics.