Official PA daily profiles "patriotic" archbishop who smuggled weapons to Palestinian terrorists
Headline: "Capucci – his body is in the diaspora, his spirit is in Jerusalem"
"A journey of struggle formed among ancient alleys in occupied Jerusalem – amazing in all of its details, inspiring pride in all of its parts, its end sad, without detracting from the pride…
Capucci was a Syrian Christian clergyman who was born in Aleppo and became an archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church in Jerusalem in 1965. He was known for his patriotic positions opposing the occupation in Palestine, and acted in secret in order to assist the resistance. He was arrested by the occupation authorities in August 1974 while attempting to smuggle weapons to the resistance, and a military court of the occupation sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He was released after four years through the Vatican's mediation, and was expelled from Palestine in November 1978. From then until his death he lived his life in the diaspora, in Rome.
It should be noted that [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas awarded the late archbishop the Star of Jerusalem Medal in 2013 in Rome…
Capucci lived in East Jerusalem, and the religious role he received did not prevent him from participating in supporting the resistance and transferring weapons to members of the Palestinian resistance, while taking advantage of his special status. The occupation monitored Capucci and his movements. On Aug. 8, 1974, it became clear that his car that was loaded with explosives was traveling in a suspicious manner towards Jerusalem, and that Capucci himself and his aide were traveling in it. The car and those in it were transferred to the occupation's police station at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, and weapons and explosives were found in [the car].
In his interrogation, Capucci at first denied his involvement in the smuggling, and said that the weapons were transferred to his car without his knowledge. However, on a document found during the search of his belongings, the number of a senior Fatah member in Lebanon who contacted him was written in his handwriting, and therefore Capucci admitted to responsibility for the car's cargo."
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.
"A journey of struggle formed among ancient alleys in occupied Jerusalem – amazing in all of its details, inspiring pride in all of its parts, its end sad, without detracting from the pride…
Capucci was a Syrian Christian clergyman who was born in Aleppo and became an archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church in Jerusalem in 1965. He was known for his patriotic positions opposing the occupation in Palestine, and acted in secret in order to assist the resistance. He was arrested by the occupation authorities in August 1974 while attempting to smuggle weapons to the resistance, and a military court of the occupation sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He was released after four years through the Vatican's mediation, and was expelled from Palestine in November 1978. From then until his death he lived his life in the diaspora, in Rome.
It should be noted that [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas awarded the late archbishop the Star of Jerusalem Medal in 2013 in Rome…
Capucci lived in East Jerusalem, and the religious role he received did not prevent him from participating in supporting the resistance and transferring weapons to members of the Palestinian resistance, while taking advantage of his special status. The occupation monitored Capucci and his movements. On Aug. 8, 1974, it became clear that his car that was loaded with explosives was traveling in a suspicious manner towards Jerusalem, and that Capucci himself and his aide were traveling in it. The car and those in it were transferred to the occupation's police station at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, and weapons and explosives were found in [the car].
In his interrogation, Capucci at first denied his involvement in the smuggling, and said that the weapons were transferred to his car without his knowledge. However, on a document found during the search of his belongings, the number of a senior Fatah member in Lebanon who contacted him was written in his handwriting, and therefore Capucci admitted to responsibility for the car's cargo."
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.