The leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem removed on Thursday, May 5, a disreputable patriarch after his involvement in the leasing of church land to Jewish investors has drawn an Arab fury.

“We officially announce today the removal of Patriarch Irineos I,” the church said in a statement after a meeting of top clergy.

“We hold him responsible for corruption ... for giving up church properties,” read the statement, carried by Reuters. It also declared Irineos persona non-grata.

The storm broke in mid-March when Israeli newspaper Maariv published details of a multi-million dollar transaction in which ideologically motivated Jewish businessmen acquired land in a predominantly Palestinian area of the Old City.

The transaction sparked fury among Palestinians as Greek Orthodox Arabs clamored for his resignation and slandered Irineos as a traitor.

The revelation has raised alarm bells on Jewish attempts to control the occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem), where holy Islamic and Christian sites are based...