The Maronite Patriarchal Vicar of Haifa and Jerusalem, Archbishop Moussa El-Hage denounced "fabricated information involving him.” He denied having taken part in the annual holiday greetings ceremony organized by Israeli President Isaac Herzog on December 21.
In an interview with the daily Nidaa al-Watan on Thursday, Hage also pointed out that "the patriarchs and bishops who took part in this event conveyed a message related to the cause they defend, and they clearly denounced the military actions in Palestine.”
Also, he stressed "the need not to give in to the campaigns of betrayal and intimidation of which he is the target, and to proceed instead with initiatives that serve the Church, the diocese and the Christians in the Holy Land.”
Hage explained that the Vatican and the Church he represents in Jerusalem "express opinions on what he is or is not allowed to undertake," indicating that he enjoys "absolute freedom of action as long as he acts by the teachings and instructions of Pope Francis and Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai.”
On Wednesday, Bishop Hage and the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Church for the Holy Land, Bishop Camille Semaan, were the subject of a legal notice filed against them by the Committee of Representatives of Former Lebanese Prisoners in Israel for having "communicated with the Israeli army.” The two Lebanese clerics were singled out for their participation with a delegation of Jerusalem church leaders in the annual holiday greetings ceremony organized by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in the presence of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Reacting to this accusation, the president of the Nawraj association, Fouad Abou Nader, stated that "what the Lebanese needed the least was this legal note presented against Hage and Semaan, further dividing them.”
"If the content of this information - which is a pure work of the imagination - is true, it means that the Committee of Representatives of Former Lebanese Prisoners in Israel has obtained this data from the Israelis and that it is the Committee that is in contact with them,” he added.
"At a time when Lebanon is exposed to a dangerous threat and the shadow of war, such fabricated information can be devastating, especially considering that the committee acted without the authorization of its leaders," Abou Nader concluded.
Founded in 2010, Nawraj is a Lebanese NGO that advocates pluralism, diversity, dialogue and peace in Lebanon.
In an interview with the daily Nidaa al-Watan on Thursday, Hage also pointed out that "the patriarchs and bishops who took part in this event conveyed a message related to the cause they defend, and they clearly denounced the military actions in Palestine.”
Also, he stressed "the need not to give in to the campaigns of betrayal and intimidation of which he is the target, and to proceed instead with initiatives that serve the Church, the diocese and the Christians in the Holy Land.”
Hage explained that the Vatican and the Church he represents in Jerusalem "express opinions on what he is or is not allowed to undertake," indicating that he enjoys "absolute freedom of action as long as he acts by the teachings and instructions of Pope Francis and Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai.”
On Wednesday, Bishop Hage and the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Church for the Holy Land, Bishop Camille Semaan, were the subject of a legal notice filed against them by the Committee of Representatives of Former Lebanese Prisoners in Israel for having "communicated with the Israeli army.” The two Lebanese clerics were singled out for their participation with a delegation of Jerusalem church leaders in the annual holiday greetings ceremony organized by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in the presence of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Reacting to this accusation, the president of the Nawraj association, Fouad Abou Nader, stated that "what the Lebanese needed the least was this legal note presented against Hage and Semaan, further dividing them.”
"If the content of this information - which is a pure work of the imagination - is true, it means that the Committee of Representatives of Former Lebanese Prisoners in Israel has obtained this data from the Israelis and that it is the Committee that is in contact with them,” he added.
"At a time when Lebanon is exposed to a dangerous threat and the shadow of war, such fabricated information can be devastating, especially considering that the committee acted without the authorization of its leaders," Abou Nader concluded.
Founded in 2010, Nawraj is a Lebanese NGO that advocates pluralism, diversity, dialogue and peace in Lebanon.
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