Lands, said the internet website of Hamas wrongly reported that he praised Palestinian suicide bombings as "heroes", The Jerusalem Post newspaper and other media said. He was briefly detained last year by Israeli police on suspicion of supporting terrorism, and now has accused the militant group Hamas of "fabricating" statements, reports said Wednesday January 15.
There was some confusion about the current status of Hanna within the turmoil plagued Greek Orthodox Church, with some Arab media describing him as Palestinian Archbishop while others called him Archamandrite.
Yet, analysts have questioned the sincerity of the reported denial from Father Hanna, who was reluctantly fired as spokesman in 2002 by the Orthodox Patriarchate, after Israel expressed concern about his views on terrorism, sources said.
DEFENDING SUICIDE BOMBINGS
The 37-year old Hanna repeatedly defended suicide bombings as a legitimate part of the Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against what he regards as Israeli occupation, BosNewsLife learned.
"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 Gulf News online edition quoted him as saying in a speech in Dubai in June, last year.
He also told Gulf News that Christians should join Muslims in their struggle, something Hamas reported on its website. "We are part of the intifada, so you don’t expect us to keep distance and watch. We are in the struggle, whether it’s martyrdom or any other means, we are part of it," he said.
CHRISTIAN DELEGATION
In August, 2002, Hanna reflected that message when he headed a Christian delegation to Agadir, Morocco, where religious and political leaders issued a strong statement backing the Palestinian position on Jerusalem.
"There can be no peace unless Palestinian Muslims and Christians recover their holy city," Hanna, was quoted as saying by the Cable News Network (CNN) and other media. He has also criticized Christian organizations who support the return of Jews to Israel, BosNewsLife monitored.
"We do not recognize these groups that are most often Protestant groups holding numerous names but with one sole aim which is the service of Zionism," Hanna told the Palestinan Chronicle online edition in September last year.
"SUSPICIOUS GROUPS"
"The Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Arab Anglican churches spurn these intruding and suspicious groups," Hanna was quoted as saying. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), a pro-Israel organization, has expressed concern about the growing tensions.
"The recurring controversy surrounding Hanna reflects an underlying turmoil within the local Greek Orthodox Church. The Church owns not only numerous Christian holy sites, but also large tracts of property throughout Jerusalem and Israel," the ICEJ said.
The sites include the hill where the Israel’s Parliament, or Knesset, stands, the ICEJ explained. "Palestinian leaders have sought to promote local Arab sympathizers to positions of leadership within the Jerusalem Patriarchate in order to gain control over these vast holdings."
Although the ICEJ stressed that the Greek Orthodox hierarchy, mainly Greek nationals, has largely resisted this "indigenization" process "so far," some Christians fear this will change.
Russian Orthodox Father Iosif told the Jerusalem Post newspaper last week that the Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church were being "a de-facto hostage of Arafat’s and cannot openly criticize his despotic, terrorist, anti-Christian regime."
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
The latest church row did little to ease tensions Wednesday, January 15, amid news that two Palestinian teenagers who were fighting against Israeli soldiers and a mentally ill villager were killed In Tulkarem, a 17-year-old Palestinian who detonated six bombs at Israeli soldiers was killed when the troops fired at him. Another 17-year-old was later shot dead in the neighboring refugee camp, the ICEJ News Service said.
Israelis were reportedly in a village near Jenin, to arrest two militants of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group affiliated with Arafat’s Fatah movement. Shooting began and a 45-year-old mentally ill bystander was killed after which the two gunmen surrendered eventually, reports said.
Palestinians and some opposition politicians have accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of stepping up his military campaign ahead of national elections on January 28. The opposition Labor party has already said it will not not join any government led by Sharon, the ICEJ News Service reported.
