Disputed Jerusalem building
Photo: Dan Balilti
Belgium to pay rent in Jerusalem
District Court orders Belgian government to pay NIS 14 million to owner of luxurious building housing country's consulate in capital
The Belgian government will be forced to pay NIS 14 million (about $ 3.7 million) to the owner of Villa Salameh,
the luxurious building housing the country's consulate in Jerusalem.
The property, located in the Talbieh neighborhood, was built during the British mandate era by Constantine Salameh, a Christian Arab. After the War of Independence, Israel banned Salameh's entry, and after a meeting with the then-Belgian consul, he was granted custody of the asset. The building has since then been used by the consulate.
Twenty-six years ago, Salameh turned all of his lands over to the State of Israel for a fee. Following prolonged proceedings, the State sold the property to the Keren Sofrim charity fund, which promised not to take any legal actions against Belgium without the justice minister's approval.
In the meantime, the fund demanded that the Belgians pay rent, which was valued by an assessor at about $30,000 a month. But the Belgians ignored the demand, prompting the fund to turn to the justice minister.
About a year ago, then-Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann gave his approval to sue the Belgian government, and in January the fund filed the lawsuit with the Jerusalem District Court, where it was represented by Attorneys Eli Mordechai, Moshe Shiloni and Shimrit Levy.
According to the fund, the Belgians have blatantly ignored all of the State's appeals. The Foreign Ministry became involved and attempted to solve the crisis through diplomacy, but to no avail, as Belgium declared it does not recognize Israel's jurisdiction on the matter.
Several days ago, Jerusalem District Court Judge David Mintz accepted the fund's claim and ordered the Belgian government to pay the required sum for using the property.
