Israel said Sunday it would recognize Irineos I as the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem -- more than two years after he was elected to the post.
Israel's long-standing refusal to endorse Irineos, describing him as the "candidate of the Palestinians," caused deep animosity in the Greek Orthodox church, which has the largest Christian community in the Holy Land.
But an Israeli government statement said a committee led by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has recommended that the Jewish state finally recognize his August 2001 election.
The church had accused Israel of violating religious freedom by rejecting its candidates and of "unacceptable interference" in the life of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Under a 1875 Ottoman law as well as another passed in 1958 by the Jordanian authorities who ruled east Jerusalem, political authorities in the Holy Land have the right to oversee candidates for the position of patriarch.
Irineos succeeded Diodoros I, who died in December 2000.
Jordan and the Palestinian Authority quickly recognized Irineos, but Israel opposed his candidacy as well as four other nominees for security reasons.
The Greek Orthodox church has almost 200 million members across the globe. Founded in the year 451, the Jerusalem patriarchate controls sizable assets, notably properties, in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and neighbouring countries.