- December 19, 2025
- 3:23 pm
- Israel
Another attempt to reconstruct the past under the slogan of “historical justice” is once again surfacing. This time — in the very heart of Jerusalem. Against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine and the demonstrative revision of borders in Europe, the topic of negotiations with Russia about the so-called “historical territories” unexpectedly returns to the Israeli agenda.
It concerns the Alexander Courtyard — an object in the Old City, about which most Israelis know almost nothing, although it is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This very point today can turn into a lever of external influence in one of the most sensitive places in the world.
A signal that is hard to miss
TASS reported that Israel has resumed negotiations with Russia on the transfer of the Alexander Courtyard. The source — the Russian Foreign Ministry. The wording is cautious, but the meaning is clear: “there are chances, contacts are being conducted.”
It is important to remind: these negotiations were frozen after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The then Bennett-Lapid government considered continuing the dialogue impossible. Now the situation has changed — and this is precisely what causes concern.
Why this point is critical
The Alexander Courtyard is located:
— inside the walls of the Old City
— approximately 150 meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
This is not just real estate. It is a node where religion, tourism, politics, and security converge. Control over such an object means access to flows of people, symbols, and meanings — and therefore, to influence.
How the rules of the game have changed
In 2020, the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu changed the legal status of the courtyard, equating it to “holy places.” In fact — to the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The result was obvious: the issue moved out of the judicial plane and ended up entirely in the hands of the government. The procedure for transferring the object became easier than obtaining a regular municipal permit.
This was a political decision. And its consequences are also political.
Who is behind the demands
The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS) claims the courtyard. One of the key figures in its leadership is Sergey Stepashin, former head of the FSB. In structures of such a level, there are no “former” members.
The FSB is not an abstraction. It is a structure that:
— interacts with Iran
— coordinates operations in Syria
— has contacts with Hamas
— conducts hybrid and informational actions against Israel
Stepashin himself publicly admitted that Moscow exerted pressure on Israel to resume negotiations.
Why this is dangerous right now
On December 8, 2025, Netanyahu from the Knesset podium stated that he maintains regular contact with Putin and considers these personal relationships “vital.” In this context, the transfer of a strategic object to a structure associated with Russian power circles looks not like a bureaucratic episode, but as a risk.
Control over the Alexander Courtyard is control over the “nervous system” of the Old City. And this is already a matter of national security.
Lessons that are ignored
When the head of the fascist Russian Foreign Ministry Lavrov says that “Ukraine has always been theirs,” he essentially admits: Moscow never intended to fulfill the agreements by which it recognized the 1991 borders.
History confirms this. Georgia, Abkhazia, the Tskhinvali region. Ultimatums, “peacekeepers,” then — the detachment of territories. The scenario repeats for decades.
Even in the 19th century, Otto von Bismarck warned: a treaty with Russia is not worth the paper it is written on. He knew what he was talking about — having worked as an ambassador in St. Petersburg for three years.
Georgian writer Grigol Robakidze wrote about this a hundred years ago, describing not just occupation, but the cultural and moral rupture that Russia brings with it. His words sound eerily relevant today.
Agent work as a strategy
Fascist Russia has long acted not only with tanks. Agent penetration, satellite parties, “useful idiots” — this is part of one system.
On November 21, 2025, former Member of the European Parliament Nathan Gill was convicted in the UK, having confessed to working for Russia. The term — 10.5 years. In Germany, “Alternative for Germany” openly demonstrates a pro-Russian orientation. The question is only in scale.
Jerusalem is not a bargaining chip
The Alexander Courtyard is not an archival dispute and not a gesture of “goodwill.” It is a strategic choice with long-term consequences.
The history of Ukraine, Georgia, and all of Eastern Europe shows: concessions to Russia do not close the conflict, but invite its continuation. Especially when it comes to “sacred” places and “historical rights.”
That is why the discussion of this issue goes far beyond a single deal and requires utmost caution — both for Israel and for the entire region. This is the context in which NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency operates and analyzes events today.
Petition against the transfer of the Alexander Courtyard
❗️We urge everyone who cares to sign the petition against the transfer of the Alexander Courtyard into the hands of IOPS.
This is very important for the security of Israel and protection❗️
🔽 Link to the petition 🔽
https://www.atzuma.co.il/threatfromrussia
