Church supports martyrdom

Martyrdom by Palestinian men and women is part of intifada, which serves their struggle against Israeli atrocities and cannot be separated from their liberation movement, said a visiting official of the Orthodox Church in occupied Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

Addressing a packed crowd at the Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-Up in the capital, Father Dr Attallah Hanna, official spokesman of the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, said last night he supported martyrdom by Palestinian men and women to fight for their just rights.

Father Attallah said the basic principle of all Palestinian political parties is the continuation of intifada against Israeli atrocities. Therefore, he said, the Church fully supports the uprising to achieve the objectives of freedom from Israel.

Giving his full support to martyrdom, the spokesman of the Orthodox Church in the Holy Land said: "As you know, political parties in Palestine agree to the continuation of the intifada, which includes different approaches of struggle.

"Some freedom fighters adopt martyrdom or suicide bombing, while others opt for other measures. But all these struggles serve the continued intifada for freedom. Therefore, we support all these causes."

He said Palestinian people should be steadfast in their struggle to be heard by the world community.

The veteran prelate said Palestinian people have been forced to adopt martyrdom by Israeli aggressors.

"It is the Israeli Zionist regime that is committing genocide in Palestine by killing innocent women and children. Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves from the Israeli barbarism and atrocities," Father Attallah said.

"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.

Referring to the Christian community in Palestine, he said it was the Israeli conspiracy to show the world that it was a Muslim struggle and Christians and other community members had nothing to do with it.

"Let me make it clear that Muslims and Christians are one and cannot be separated from the struggle for the liberation of Palestine. We are Palestinians and Arabs," he said.

The Orthodox Church official further said Palestinian Christians have suffered under Israeli Zionist rule as much as Muslims. He said Israeli troops have been committing genocide against Palestinian Christians since 1948.

He said an Orthodox Church has been occupied by Israeli settlers for more than 15 years, which itself shows how Palestinian Christians are suffering under Israeli occupation.

"We are one people. Whether Muslims or Christians, we are Palestinians and Arabs and we will continue our struggle till we achieve freedom," he assured the Church supporters.

Referring to the number of Christians in Palestine, he said the number had decreased due to forceful migration by Israeli troops since the occupation of Arab lands.

"The current two per cent Christians in Palestine are an integral part of our Muslim brothers. They are as loyal to the struggle as they are. There have been pioneering leaders in the struggle for the freedom among Christians in Palestine," he said.

"Our main aim is liberation of the occupied land with Jerusalem as the Capital city of an independent Palestine. All the Arabs are Palestinians, whether Muslims or Christians," Father Attallah said.

He said Israel, with its Western allies, portrays Palestinian issue as a conflict between Jews and Muslims. "Let me tell the world that it is not the issue. The conflict is between the truth and Israeli lies. If it was a religious conflict, the Christians would not have come to the picture. Christians are part and parcel of the Palestinian struggle for the freedom," he said.

"We are one people. Whether Muslims or Christians, we are Palestinians and Arabs and we will continue our struggle till we achieve freedom," he assured the Church supporters.

This is true dhimmi nonsense!!! As this Orthodox priest WELL KNOWS, baptized and annointed Christians and followers of the false prophet and antichrist Muhammad are as far apart from each other as the kingdom of God is from the kingdom of Satan!!!!

As he also well knows, the concept of martyrdom in Christianity is poles apart from "martyrdom" in islam, especially the islamofascist form of islam. Christian martyrs don't deliberately seek death in the process of murdering as many innocent people as possible!!!

As he also should know, if the islamofascist "Palestinians" should even acheive "victory" in their "struggle", the Christians of the Holy Land will be TOAST!!!! If that should happen, then they will unfortunately be REAL martyrs.

"Some freedom fighters adopt martyrdom or suicide bombing, while others opt for other measures."

I know this is a bit off-topic, but "suicide bombing" really is a misnomer for what should be labelled as "mass murder of innocent civilians." If these zealots went out to the desert and blew themselves up, that'd be rightfully called "martyrdom or suicide bombing."

I'm going to try and avoid falling for this pro-terrorist spin in my own descriptions of this inhuman practice.

FReegards...MUD

Some people in the leadership of both Orthodox and Catholic Churches believe that they have a stake in Jerusalem, as do the Islamics. But by their own holy books the Jewish claim to the land trumps theirs. They have to get rid of the Jews and then they can fight among themselves for control of Jerusalem on a more equal basis.

This is also why Protestant Christian churches tend to be on the Jewish side. They want to visit the Holy Land but have little or no interest in owning it.

This Dr. Attallah Hanna is probably among those who think that his church has a claim here.

a.cricket

It would not surprise me if he were attached to my Patriarchate in Antioch. Militant Arabism has led to a real effort by Antiochian Orthodox faithful here to petition the Patriarch for autonomous status, which allows us greater self governance, and brings us that much closer to having a North American Patriarchate (a good thing).....We blister the Metropolitan in New York (Saliba) whenever he gives lip service to this dreck (he doesn't like my public commentary on these stances, either - he told me so)....

I know about Metropolitan Philip's statements in favor of the "Palestinians", and that whitewash islam. As a member of a large mainline Protestant denomination, and as a Christian with a strong affinity for Orthodoxy, I am appalled and frustrated. I am indignant at my own denomination's mis-leaders kissing up to the muslims. Why become Orthodox if Orthodox leaders do the same thing? The two Orthodox jurisdictions in the US that attract the most converts from Western Christianity are the Antochian church and the Orthodox Church in America. At least the OCA does not have an Arab background. Does it do any better in terms of standing against the jihad and supporting the Serbs and Macedonians, not to mention us Americans who are under muslim attack as well?

then there is the issue of the autocephalous American Orthodox Church. The OCA claims to be it, but that is not accepted by most other Orthodox jurisdictions (including the Ecumenical Patriarchate). In my opinion, an autocephalous church with an American patriarch would make Orthodoxy in the US much, much stronger, including attracting more converts and contesting the religious and spiritual future of America with the current "fastest growing religion"--islam. And--provided it avoids the "mainline" trap--it could stand up for real Christian values, including support for Christians around the world who are under attack or persecution by islam and Chinese communism, etc.

I think you are right. The main impediment to an American Patriarchate has been the Greek Archdiocese. There is much talk among the ordinary clergy and the laity of an OCA-Antiochian union as the next step after autonomy for the Antiochian Archdiocese, at least is the Greeks don't get autonomy soon.

I have heard that the Holy Synod of Antioch has given "provisional approval" to the petition for autonomy, and that a group of metropolitans has been assigned to work out the details. To some observers this came as a surprise.

Well come on down and hook up with us! :-) I don't keep up with the politics much as raising four children, and helping with the churchschool and food at church keeps me busy enough.
But we like the OCA very much and our church flies a huge American flag out front ( though you can't see it from this picture).
I am astonished to read this post and also was surprised to hear of a pending Antiochian-OCA merge.
Without a doubt the OCA and Antiochian parishes in this area are the fastest growing and largest. Our church is now struggling to assist some four missions, and there are several churches which just graduated from mission status.

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