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Greek Orthodox official questioned in Israel, criticized by patriarchate
2002-196-4
8/28/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
Israeli police have questioned an official of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem on suspicion of supporting terror groups and illegally visiting countries hostile to the existence of Israel. Archimandrite Atallah Hanna, who has faced criticism from his patriarchate for his alleged remarks, claimed after his release from custody that his arrest had been unjustified as he had only expressed opposition to Israel's military occupation of areas claimed by the Palestinians.
'Our position is consistent and thorough,' he said. 'We will continue to support the Palestinians, until they gain their freedom. We are not terrorists or murderers; we are people who aspire to live in freedom and respect.'
Hanna was taken from his home in the walled Old City of Jerusalem and was questioned on suspicion of having met with the leader of the militant Islamic group Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Narallah, during a recent visit to Lebanon. Hanna said his meetings with Sheikh Nasrallah had taken place in the context of a conference on Christian-Muslim religious dialogue. He is also suspected by Israeli police of calling on Palestinian Christians to join the uprising against Israel, which began in September 2000. In a recent article in Gulf News, a newspaper published in Dubai, he is quoted as supporting suicide bombings.
'Some freedom fighters adopt martyrdom or suicide measures. But all these measures serve the continued Intifada [Palestinian uprising] for freedom. Therefore, we support all these casualties,' the newspaper quoting him as saying in a speech in Dubai. The newspaper also identified him as an official spokesman for the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.
In an official statement, however, the Greek Patriarchate in Jerusalem denied that he was a spokesman for the church. The statement said that Hanna was a clerk in the Arabic department of the patriarchate's secretariat. Bishop Aristorchus, a spokesman for the patriarchate, said the church did not agree with Hanna's statements reported in the newspaper, nor had it granted permission for him to travel to Syria and Lebanon. Israeli police spokesman Gil Klieman said Hanna held Israeli citizenship and was not allowed to visit Lebanon and Syria, with whom Israel is technically still at war.
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