Jerusalem- The former Melkite Greek Catholic archbishop of Jerusalem has joined the international flotilla currently under way to the Gaza Strip. Father Hilarion Capucci, the archbishop of Jerusalem during the 1960s and early 1970s, was arrested by Israeli security forces in 1974 for material support of a terrorist organization. According to Paul Merkley, a historian and author of the book Christian attitudes towards the State of Israel, Capucci used his official limousine and "the cover of his priestly office to personally smuggle explosives, submachine guns, and even katyusha rockets into Israel, which were then used in PLO terrorist actions accounting for the loss of many lives."

The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement on its English language website this week, announcing the priest's participation in the flotilla and claiming that "the Israeli occupation exiled father Capucci from Palestine because of his honorable national stands."

Sentenced to fifty-seven years in an Israeli prison, the gunrunning clergyman was granted a reprieve in 1977 after direct intervention from the Vatican. The Catholic Church called for Capucci's release on the grounds that his incarceration only served to "aggravate tension."

The Church promised Israeli authorities that Capucci would cease all involvement in political issues regarding the state of Israel. Since that time Capucci has positioned himself as a prominent anti-Zionist activist. In 2009 he was arrested and transferred to Syria by Israeli security forces after attempting to illegally enter Gaza by sea. The former terrorist is also active in promoting the right of return for those Arabs who fled during the 1948 invasion of the newly declared state of Israel.

According to the former archbishop, the founder of his religion was "the first Fedayeen" and he was merely "following his example."

Top Islamic extremists attend launching ceremony

 

According to Israeli intelligence sources, several prominent Islamic extremists attended the launching of the Gaza-bound flotilla in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was attended by Mahmad Tzoalha and Sahar Albirawi, both top Hamas officials operating out of Great Britain, and Hamam Said, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan.

 

Also in attendance was Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Israeli branch of the Brotherhood. Salah has previously admitted in an Israeli Court to conferring with foreign agents and assisting unauthorized organizations, after it had become known that he was in contact with Hamas.