Features|Israel-Palestine conflict
![An Armenian protest against the attempts by an Israeli real estate developer to take over a part of the Armenian Quarter of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem [Al Jazeera]](https://www-aljazeera-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SD_ARMENIAN_PROTEST_JERUSALEM_01-1700828793.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80 "An Armenian protest against the attempts by an Israeli real estate developer to take over a part of the Armenian Quarter of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem [Al Jazeera]")
Protest against the contentious land deal in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem on June 30 2023 [Al Jazeera]
By Al Jazeera Staff
Published On 24 Nov 202324 Nov 2023
Old City, occupied East Jerusalem – After learning that settlers had returned to bulldoze in an area of the parking lot near his house in the Armenian Quarter, 80-year-old Garo Nalbandian, a professional photographer, joined a community sit-in in the area known as the Cows’ Garden with, of course, his trusty camera.
“We won’t leave,” a determined Nalbandian said gruffly in between snapping photos of Armenians on one side of the makeshift barricade and Israeli police and hired security on the other.
On October 26, the leader of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced it would cancel a once-secret 2021 land lease deal with a real estate company that has alleged links to settler interests.
‘We won’t leave’: Armenians in Jerusalem push back against armed settlers
A controversial real estate project threatens the world’s oldest Armenian diaspora community. But they refuse to move.
By Al Jazeera Staff
Published On 24 Nov 202324 Nov 2023
Old City, occupied East Jerusalem – After learning that settlers had returned to bulldoze in an area of the parking lot near his house in the Armenian Quarter, 80-year-old Garo Nalbandian, a professional photographer, joined a community sit-in in the area known as the Cows’ Garden with, of course, his trusty camera.
“We won’t leave,” a determined Nalbandian said gruffly in between snapping photos of Armenians on one side of the makeshift barricade and Israeli police and hired security on the other.
On October 26, the leader of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced it would cancel a once-secret 2021 land lease deal with a real estate company that has alleged links to settler interests.
