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PLO official: Archbishop who abetted terror died as a Shahid, "his glorious path that was checkered with his noble national positions"

Headline: "Karake: Released prisoner Archbishop Hilarion Capucci died in Rome with his eyes towards Palestine and the prisoners"
     "Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake praised the late released prisoner, [Greek Catholic] Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, who died yesterday, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Rome, the capital of Italy, at nearly 94 years old, after a path of struggle and giving, in which he took care that Palestine would remain present in his heart despite being expelled from it by force by a decision of the occupation.
Karake clarified that Archbishop Capucci was a released prisoner who served 4 years in the occupation’s prisons. He was arrested in 1974 for his support of the Palestinian revolution, his aid to the [Palestinian] resistance, and his objection to the criminal Israeli occupation. He was sentenced at the time to 12 years, and after serving 4 years, the decision to expel him to Italy was published.
The [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners' Affairs, represented by Commission Director Issa Karake, the prisoners' movement, and all of the institutions that are active in the field of prisoners, expressed their sorrow and sincere condolences to the family of Archbishop Capucci and all of his friends and loved ones. Likewise, they expressed the pride of the Palestinian people and its leadership for this fighter and his glorious path that was checkered with his noble national positions, and emphasized that he died as a Martyr (Shahid) on the path of freedom and struggle."

Hilarion Capucci – former Greek Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem who exploited his status as a religious leader to smuggle weapons to Palestinian terrorists. He was arrested in 1974 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was released in 1977 due to the Vatican’s intervention. In October 2013, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas awarded him the Star of Jerusalem Medal.

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