Russia: We Will Soon Gain Ownership of Alexander's Courtyard in Jerusalem

The Russian Embassy in Israel announced that the registration process for Russian ownership of Alexander's Courtyard in Jerusalem's Old City is in its final stages. Israeli officials stress that no timeline for completing the process, which has lasted about a decade, can be set yet. The inter-ministerial committee held a hearing in November 2025, and Russia awaits the protocol. The historic compound, purchased in the 19th century, has been disputed since the Russian Revolution.

The Russian Embassy in Israel announced that the process of re-registering Russian ownership rights over the Alexander's Courtyard compound in Jerusalem's Old City is in its final stages. In contrast, the Israeli Embassy in Moscow stated that the issue is still under review and that it is too early to set timelines. According to the Russian statement, an Israeli inter-ministerial committee established in 2021 held an in-person hearing in November 2025, and Russia awaits the protocol. Alexander's Courtyard is a historic compound purchased in the 19th century by Emperor Alexander II, and the dispute over its ownership began after the Russian Revolution in 1917. In 2022, Putin sent a letter to Bennett, and in recent years the issue has come up in talks between the countries. In 2020, Netanyahu signed an order designating the courtyard as a holy site. The article notes that some reports on the deal for the release of Naama Issachar included a Russian demand for ownership of the courtyard, but there is no evidence for this. The courtyard covers 1,300 meters and is de facto controlled by the OPS organization. Activist Alex Tencer said Putin sees this as an impressive victory ahead of the parliamentary elections.