Israel suspends tax actions that led to closure of Christian holy site

Christian leaders took the rare step of closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built at the site of Jesus's burial in Jerusalem, in protest at Israeli tax measures and a proposed property law. (AFP)

JERUSALEM: Jerusalem's mayor has suspended a plan to collect taxes from churches, easing a crisis that had led to a three-day closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
In an announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he and Mayor Nir Barkat had formed a team to "formulate a solution" to the matter. The team will negotiate with church officials.
There was no immediate response from church officials.
Barkat says his tax plan applies only to commercial properties owned by churches, not houses of worship. But the churches say the plan violates longstanding understandings.
In protest, major Christian denominations on Sunday closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected.