Israel Russia Church Dispute WEB
Metadata
- Israel Russia Church Dispute WEB
- April 21, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Israel Russia Church Dispute (TV) HEADLINE: Russia Demands Return of Jerusalem Church as Tensions Rise TEASER: Israel Cancels Planned Handover and Appoints Committee PUBLISHED AT: 4/21/2022 at 1:30pm BYLINE: Linda Gradstein CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: JERUSALEM VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, wpm VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, REUTERS, AP PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _x_ TRT: 3:04 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATES: On Web page, please post camera credit for Ricki Rosen)) ((INTRO)) [[Tensions between Jerusalem and Moscow are rising over the contested Alexander Nevsky Russian church property in Jerusalem’s Old City. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett demanding Israel immediately hand over control of the church. The issue is one of the latest flashpoints in the increasingly contentious relations between the two countries during the Russian war against Ukraine. Linda Gradstein and Ricki Rosen report from Jerusalem.]] ((NARRATOR)) The serene atmosphere in the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky church in Jerusalem’s Old City, belies the fact that the religious site has become a flashpoint in the growing diplomatic disputes between Moscow and Jerusalem. [[RADIO VERSION: Sarah Fainberg is a Russian Middle East policy analyst at Tel Aviv University.]] ((Sarah Fainberg, Tel Aviv University, FEMALE IN ENGLISH - VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “It is not sure on this very point as we speak, if it is a minor diplomatic crisis meant to create a pressure, a leverage point against Jerusalem, or a game changer in the relationship between Moscow and Israel.” ((NARRATOR)) Israel has tried to remain neutral from the beginning of the Ukraine war. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett even visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. But recently Israeli officials have been more outspoken against Russian aggression, voting to condemn Russia at the United Nations. As part of its counterattack, Russia sent Putin aide and former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin to deliver a letter from Putin to Bennett, demanding the immediate transfer of the Alexander Nevsky church compound. Stepashin accused Israel of ignoring Russia’s proven claims to the property and “playing ping pong” with both sides because of the Ukraine conflict. Israel agreed to transfer ownership of the Nevsky church to Russia in 2020 as part of a deal by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the release of an Israeli imprisoned in Moscow on drug charges. Israeli courts blocked the move, though, demanding that the complicated political and legal situation in Jerusalem’s Old City be resolved by a special governmental committee. [[RADIO VERSION: Roman Bronfman, a former member Israeli Knesset member.]] ((Roman Bronfman, Former Israeli Knesset Member, Male (in Hebrew, NEEDS VOICEOVER), VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “I don’t believe that any Israeli government will be able at this stage to release the Alexander Church compound to transfer it into the hands of Russia, and thus violate the status quo which is so explosive and delicate in the Old City.” ((NARRATOR)) The current Russian demand for the church property could force Israel into being seen as violating international sanctions against Russia. [[RADIO VERSION: …. says Fainberg of Tel Aviv University.]] ((Sarah Fainberg, Tel Aviv University, Female (in English), VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “If Israel were making that concession of transferring the Alexander Courtyards..in the context of Western sanctions against Russian properties, against Russian cultural centers across Europe, in the United States, Canada – that would create a crisis, or maybe a high tension, between Israel and the West, and Israel and the United States in particular.” ((NARRATOR)) While pilgrims inside the church strive to get close to God, the dispute outside threatens to drive Jerusalem and Moscow farther apart. ((Linda Gradstein for VOA News, Jerusalem.))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Israel Russia Church Dispute (TV) HEADLINE: Russia Demands Return of Jerusalem Church as Tensions Rise TEASER: Israel Cancels Planned Handover and Appoints Committee PUBLISHED AT: 4/21/2022 at 1:30pm BYLINE: Linda Gradstein CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: JERUSALEM VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, wpm VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, REUTERS, AP PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _x_ TRT: 3:04 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATES: On Web page, please post camera credit for Ricki Rosen)) ((INTRO)) [[Tensions between Jerusalem and Moscow are rising over the contested Alexander Nevsky Russian church property in Jerusalem’s Old City. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett demanding Israel immediately hand over control of the church. The issue is one of the latest flashpoints in the increasingly contentious relations between the two countries during the Russian war against Ukraine. Linda Gradstein and Ricki Rosen report from Jerusalem.]] ((NARRATOR)) The serene atmosphere in the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky church in Jerusalem’s Old City, belies the fact that the religious site has become a flashpoint in the growing diplomatic disputes between Moscow and Jerusalem. [[RADIO VERSION: Sarah Fainberg is a Russian Middle East policy analyst at Tel Aviv University.]] ((Sarah Fainberg, Tel Aviv University, FEMALE IN ENGLISH - VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “It is not sure on this very point as we speak, if it is a minor diplomatic crisis meant to create a pressure, a leverage point against Jerusalem, or a game changer in the relationship between Moscow and Israel.” ((NARRATOR)) Israel has tried to remain neutral from the beginning of the Ukraine war. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett even visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. But recently Israeli officials have been more outspoken against Russian aggression, voting to condemn Russia at the United Nations. As part of its counterattack, Russia sent Putin aide and former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin to deliver a letter from Putin to Bennett, demanding the immediate transfer of the Alexander Nevsky church compound. Stepashin accused Israel of ignoring Russia’s proven claims to the property and “playing ping pong” with both sides because of the Ukraine conflict. Israel agreed to transfer ownership of the Nevsky church to Russia in 2020 as part of a deal by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the release of an Israeli imprisoned in Moscow on drug charges. Israeli courts blocked the move, though, demanding that the complicated political and legal situation in Jerusalem’s Old City be resolved by a special governmental committee. [[RADIO VERSION: Roman Bronfman, a former member Israeli Knesset member.]] ((Roman Bronfman, Former Israeli Knesset Member, Male (in Hebrew, NEEDS VOICEOVER), VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “I don’t believe that any Israeli government will be able at this stage to release the Alexander Church compound to transfer it into the hands of Russia, and thus violate the status quo which is so explosive and delicate in the Old City.” ((NARRATOR)) The current Russian demand for the church property could force Israel into being seen as violating international sanctions against Russia. [[RADIO VERSION: …. says Fainberg of Tel Aviv University.]] ((Sarah Fainberg, Tel Aviv University, Female (in English), VOA)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “If Israel were making that concession of transferring the Alexander Courtyards..in the context of Western sanctions against Russian properties, against Russian cultural centers across Europe, in the United States, Canada – that would create a crisis, or maybe a high tension, between Israel and the West, and Israel and the United States in particular.” ((NARRATOR)) While pilgrims inside the church strive to get close to God, the dispute outside threatens to drive Jerusalem and Moscow farther apart. ((Linda Gradstein for VOA News, Jerusalem.))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date April 21, 2022 13:37 EDT
- Byline Linda Gradstein
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America