Amman, Jordan - Jordan on Sunday withdrew its recognition of the leader of Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Church, saying he failed to annul an unsanctioned sale of church property to Israel.
Jordanian recognition of the patriarch is required under church law, which dictates that he must have the blessing of the Holy Land's ruling powers - Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
Israel has also refused to recognize the patriarch, preferring his predecessor who reportedly approved the deal.
The Jordanian cabinet decided in a meeting late Saturday to "withdraw its recognition" of Patriarch Theofilos III "for failing to fulfil the obligations he promised to the Jordanian government," the official Petra news agency reported Sunday.
It did not provide other details. But a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the Jordanian move was sparked by the patriarch's "failure to act on the controversial east Jerusalem land deal with Israel concluded by his predecessor."
Theofilos's predecessor, Irineos I, was ousted in May 2005 over claims of being involved in the unsanctioned sale of church property in Jerusalem, including two hotels, to an Israeli company. The sales would bolster the Jewish presence in east Jerusalem, a traditionally Arab quarter that Palestinians hope to make their capital.
Irineos has denied the allegations against him, saying a former aide signed the leases without his knowledge. Israel continues to recognize Irineos, despite his ouster.
Attempts to call an aide to Theofilos in Israel went unanswered Sunday.
Raouf Abu Jaber, a Greek Orthodox leader in Amman who also withdrew his recognition of the Jerusalem patriarch, said Theofilos will possibly seek a reversal of the Jordanian decision. Theofilos has already petitioned Israel's Supreme Court for recognition from that country.
Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said his government "expresses its serious concern" over Jordan's decision to withdraw its recognition of Theofilos.
The Greek Orthodox Church abides by a 1958 Jordanian law banning the sale of any church land or property in Jerusalem, which Jordan ruled until Israel seized it during the 1967 Middle East War.
Jordan was given responsibility for overseeing Christian and Islamic holy shrines in Jerusalem under Amman's 1994 peace treaty with the Jewish state.
The Orthodox patriarchate in Jerusalem has 100,000 members, most of whom are Palestinian Christians and are pressing for more say in church affairs.