Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, who has been a vocal proponent for the Palestinian cause for many years, received an unexpected shower of rocks and water bottles hurled at his motorcade while Palestinians pounded on the hood of his car as he entered Bethlehem to celebrate mass for the Orthodox Christmas on Saturday. The dramatic change in Theophilos’s status among the Palestinians results from reports that he allowed Church property to be sold to Jewish Israelis. The Orthodox Church has leased a large amount of land in Jerusalem and elsewhere to Israelis on long leases, most of the property having been built upon. With the end of those leases in sight and the Church in a cash-poor position and needing revenue, sales of the leased properties were made to Jewish Israelis infuriating Palestinians who see all Jerusalem property as theirs. Accordingly, Patriarch Theophilos is being called a “traitor.”