Archbishop Atallah Hanna to ST: Al-Quds Faces ‘Serious Danger’
Expressing pride in the Arabism of al-Quds city is no longer enough to protect it from the unprecedented conspiracy being hatched against it with a view to Judaizing it and expunging its history, the Archbishop of Sebastia of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of al-Quds [Jerusalem] Atallah Hanna told the Syriatimes e-newspaper.
The Archbishop, who called on the Christian and Muslim leaders all over the world to protect al-Quds city from the massacre being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation, affirmed that al-Quds faces a serious danger.
“Al-Quds city is passing through sad, painful and difficult circumstances because the occupation is working with quick steps on Judaizing the city and expunging its history while Arab conferences on al-Quds are being held and condemnation statements are being released,” he said, indicating that the conferences and statements are important but they must be accompanied with serious acts to protect the Palestinian people.
“We hope that these conferences and statements will be translated into political and strategic stances for protecting the steadfastness of our people and al-Quds city and for rejecting all measures being adopted by the occupation against our Holy city,” Archbishop Hanna added.
He made it clear that those who conspired against Syria and other Arab countries won’t stand by Palestine and its people and holy shrines.
Arab tragedy
“Our Arab tragedy lies in the fact that the Arab money and oil are not in the hands of Arabs and they are being used by the enemies of the Arab nation to finance their colonial schemes that aim to split our region and weaken it in order to abort the Palestinian cause,” the Archbishop stated.
He underscored that the conspirators against Syria are the same parties conspiring against Palestine, noting that these conspirators’ compass will never be Palestine.
“We, Palestinians, say during these murky circumstances: ‘Nothing can scratch your skin like your fingernail. We have to be united with liberals in the Arab nation in confronting the colonial policies that target not only Palestine but the whole Arab nation,” Archbishop Hanna said.
He indicated that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of al-Quds daily receives foreign delegations that come from all over the world to express solidarity with Palestine and its people. “We are looking forwards to increasing the number of our friends, who would be able to influence the policies of their countries in the future.”
Al-Quds will remain Palestine’s capital
The archbishop reiterated that al-Quds is a Palestinian Arab city and the occupation’s racial measures against national religious institutes will enhance the Palestinians’ steadfastness and their belongingness to the holy city [al-Quds].
“The goal of imposing taxes by the Israeli occupation on properties owned by churches in al-Quds is to put pressure on the Christian religious institutes…Since 1948, the occupation authorities have taken over a lot of Christian real estates and now they impose taxes on us “the worst misfortune is the one that makes you laugh”, he added.
Archbp Hanna concluded by saying: “al-Quds people will never surrender to occupation and to the US-western bias towards Israel. Al-Quds will remain the capital of Palestine.”
Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour