Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem continues in his endeavor to incite Palestinian violence against Israel. In a recent conference which he held in Lebanon Hanna broadcast his speech to the Palestinian people to return and take control of Jerusalem.  

The conference, which is the Third International Conference for the Return of Palestine, also took on the title, “In support of the Al-Quds Intifada”, a name which has been given by Arabs to the current wave of terror washing over Israel.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) quoted several parts of the Archbishop’s speech that claimed tht Palestinian issue should offend people of all religions. “The Palestinian issue is everyone’s issue. It is an issue for Palestinians, Muslims, Christians and Arabs.It does not matter how long it continues for nor how many schemers are involved. The Palestinians will continue to hold onto Palestine with Jerusalem as its spiritual and national capital.

With the right of return, the right of all Palestinians who suffered the Nakba in 1948, and the Naksa in 1967 to return to their homeland, we will not give up even a single returnee who has the right to come back to Jerusalem and Palestine.”  

Archbishop Hanna who was formerly the spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Church has been spouting anti-Israel rhetoric for many years. This issue prevented him for continuing further in the hierarchy of the church many years ago. However the new Patriarch of the Church has recently advanced Hanna to the rank of Archbishop.  

Israel has not chosen to respond yet to Hanna’s statements, nor has Hanna’s anti-Israel rhetoric had an effect on the relationship between the church and Israel.