Regulatory Alerts2026-03-26
Added
Circular No. 34/2026: Heads of Patriarchates and Recognized Churches in Palestine
The Palestine Monetary Authority requires all banks operating in Palestine to adopt the updated list of heads of recognized churches for correspondence validation and to cease processing any correspondence signed by Nourhan Manoukian, Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and all Holy Lands. Banks must refer any incoming correspondence concerning the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate or its affiliated institutions to the Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs. This circular repeals Circular No. 292/2022.
PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY
Circular No. (34/2026) To all banks operating in Palestine Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Subject: Heads of Patriarchates and Recognized Churches in Palestine
Attached is a copy of the letter from the Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs regarding the request to approve correspondence issued by the heads of patriarchates and churches affiliated with Christian denominations recognized in Palestine. Emphasizing the continued freezing of recognition of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem and all Holy Lands / Nourhan Manoukian, and stopping dealings with correspondence issued under his signature, and working on reviewing the Presidential Committee in case any correspondence concerning the Patriarchate or its affiliated institutions is received.
Accordingly, the necessary measures for implementation are requested.
Supervision Group Palestine Monetary Authority
This also repeals Circular No. (2022/292).
STATE OF PALESTINE Higher Presidential Committee of Churches affairs in Palestine
State of Palestine Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine
Date: 2026/03/11
Dear Mr. Yahya Shannar, Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority
Greetings,
Subject: Heads of Recognized Churches in Palestine
The Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine extends its best greetings to you. With reference to the above subject, and in response to your letter No. 2026/03/282 dated 2026/03/10, we attach to you an updated list of names of heads of recognized churches in Palestine for the approval of correspondence issued by them.
It is also necessary to note the requirement to adopt our letter No. 2023/87 dated 2023/05/18, regarding the freezing of recognition of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Nourhan Manoukian and referring to the Presidential Committee in case any letter concerning the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate or its affiliated institutions is received.
Please accept the highest respect and appreciation.
Dr. Ramzi Khoury Member of the Executive Committee of the PLO Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine
- Attached list of names of church heads
- Attached copy of our letter No. 2023/87
STATE OF PALESTINE Higher Presidential Committee of Churches affairs in Palestine
State of Palestine Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine
List of names of heads of recognized churches in Palestine
| No. | Name | Patriarchate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III | Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox of Jerusalem and All Holy Lands and Jordan |
| 2 | His Eminence Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa | Patriarch of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and All Holy Lands |
| 3 | His Grace Bishop Yasser Ayyash | Bishop of the Greek Melkite Catholic in Jerusalem |
| 4 | His Grace Bishop Dr. Emad Haddad | Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and All Holy Lands |
| 5 | His Grace Bishop Hussam Naoum | Archbishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East |
| 6 | His Grace Bishop Mar Antimos Jack Yacoub | Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox in Jerusalem, Jordan and All Holy Lands |
| 7 | His Holiness Father Francesco Patto | Custodian of the Holy Land |
| 8 | His Grace Bishop Anba Antonios | Bishop of the Jerusalem and Near East See of the Coptic Orthodox |
| 9 | His Grace Bishop Netanel Nizar Simeon | Bishop of the Abyssinian Church in Jerusalem and All Holy Lands |
| 10 | His Eminence Archbishop Musa Al-Hajj | Bishop of the Maronite Church in All Holy Lands and Haifa |
| 11 | His Grace Bishop Mar Yacoub Ephrem Simeon | Bishop of the Syriac Catholic Church in Jerusalem and All Holy Lands |
| 12 | Father Narik Louis Naimo | Armenian Catholic Church in Jerusalem and Jordan |
Higher Presidential Committee of Churches affairs in Palestine (HCC)
Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine (HCC)
Date: 18-05-2023
His Excellency Dr. Firas Malham, Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Greetings,
Subject: Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate
The Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine extends its best greetings to you. With reference to the above subject, and based on the Committee's decision regarding the freezing of recognition of Patriarch Nourhan Manoukian, Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and all Holy Lands, we request that you circulate to banks the decision of the Presidential Committee to stop dealing with letters issued under his signature when opening and updating bank accounts, and to refer to the Presidential Committee in case any letters from the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate and its affiliated institutions are received.
Thank you very much.
Dr. Ramzi Khoury Member of the Executive Committee of the PLO Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine
More like this from PMA
We email you every new PMA publication the day it's published.