The Patriarch and the Church originally sued Maariv over a series of articles between December 2002 and January 2004 claiming that Irineos had taken anti-Semitic stances. The suit claimed that the series was "organized as a series of dramatic revelations during a critical period in which the Government of Israel was debating whether or not to recognize [Irineos] as Patriarch of the Church."

The evidence against Irineos, which was also quoted in Arutz-7 at the time, included two personal letters he wrote to Yasser Arafat. On July 17, 2001, Irineos wrote, "You [Arafat] are aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine." He then asks Arafat for his support, promising that if he is elected head of the church, "rest assured, Mr. President, that the rights of our most beloved Palestinian people on the Holy City of Jerusalem will find the most 'hot' supporter."

A second letter from Irineos to Arafat, dated April 5, 2002, emphasizes Arafat?s ?heroic resistance? to Israel?s ?illegal and inhuman aggression? against Arafat?s headquarters in Ramallah and Christian ?holy sites? in Bethlehem. Irineos signed the letter in large type as ?PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM AND WHOLE PALESTINE.?

In withdrawing the suit against Maariv and agreeing to pay legal fees, Irineos wrote to the newspaper that he is "putting aside any personal interest on my behalf, because I feel that I am a servant of God of Love and Forgiveness..." He did not repeat the Church's previous assertion to the effect that the letters were forged, but merely wrote that Maariv had been "seriously mislead and misinformed."

Regarding the "forgery" claims, Arutz-7 reported as follows on Feb. 1 of this year:
"The police found that the letters' seals were authentic, though they cannot vouch that the contents were actually written by Irineos. Three people, however, claim to have seen Irineos actually write the letters. Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen even quotes an affidavit provided to a Greek Magistrates Court judge on Sept. 9, 2003 by one of the three witnesses, in which he states, "I had a strong argument with Mr. Irineos on the content of this letter, [such as] the language and the expressions against the Jewish people and Israel, and also about the necessity of sending such a letter to Yasser Arafat. I explained to him that this letter stands in total contrast to his previous behavior and declarations regarding his attitude towards Israelis and Israel. Similarly, it is very damaging to his own interests... Despite my sharp objections to this, the Metropolite Irineos insisted that this letter would have a very strong echo in order to pressure Israel to restore his name to the list of candidates [for Patriarch]."

As head of the Greek Orthodox church, considered the richest in Israel, Irineos has responsibility for the church?s extensive land holdings. These include the land on which the Knesset, Israel?s parliament, was built; the Prime Minister?s and the President?s official residences; parts of Jerusalem?s wealthiest neighborhoods, and locations in the Old City and in the new Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa.

Arutz-7's Shimon Cohen reports that senior Church figures say that the withdrawal of the suit is a "blow" to the Church and a humiliation for the Patriarch. They say that Irineos' consent to withdraw the suit and pay legal fees allows him to avoid intensive legal review of the case. In July 2003, Church sources alleged that Arafat tried to prevent his friend Irineos from being replaced as Patriarch - and framed the competitor for murder