Bishop Haj: I Did Not Participate in the Israeli Meeting

Bishop Moussa Haj denounced, in an interview with "Nidaa Al-Watan," the "deliberate fabrication of false news and the promotion of it by known parties." He emphasized the necessity of not yielding to campaigns of treason and intimidation directed at him, and instead focusing on what serves the church, the archdiocese, and Christians in the Holy Land. He clarified that his presence in the Holy Land is in his capacity as a representative of the Vatican and the Church, "authorized to provide counsel on what should and should not be done," while highlighting "the absolute freedom of action he enjoys under his obedience to the teachings and guidance of His Holiness Pope Francis and His Beatitude Patriarch Bechara Peter Rai." He confirmed that he did not accept the annual invitation issued by Israeli officials to greet church representatives in the Holy Land, noting that the patriarchs and bishops who accepted the invitation "raised their concerns with the officials they met and clearly condemned the military actions taking place in Palestine."