Church clashes over five-star Scots hotel in Tiberias

SENIOR Church of Scotland figures have clashed over quitting the “only non-Israeli land by the Sea of Galilee” after a plea to sell its controversial Scots Hotel in Tiberias.

The five-star hotel has cost the Kirk £17.5 million, which could be better spent on other mission projects, itwas claimed.

The call came from Jo Elliot, of Edinburgh Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland. Hewas one of those involved in the initial debate over setting up the hotel – which was previously a run down hostel – in 1999.

Mr Elliot suggested the hotel should be sold or taken over by a third party

He said: “This is the Church of Scotland’s own Edinburgh Trams or Holyrood Parliament.

“If we knew how much it cost, we wouldn’t have started it.

The motion was seconded by former assembly moderator the Very Rev Alan McDonald who said: “We are good at many things, but not running a five-star hotel.”

Another former moderator, Very Rev John Cairns, said Christian congregations in Palestine had pleaded with the Kirk to keep a footprint in the region.

Convener of theWorld Mission Council, the Very Rev Andrew McLellan, who also held the moderatorial post, said: “I would fight any proposal to sell.” He said the hotel had made £250,000 last year and gave £200,000 to the Kirk’s Tabeetha School in Jaffa.

The motion was rejected.