Senior Roman Catholic priest Monsignor Manuel Musallam has called for resistance against the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli authorities in occupied Palestine and abroad, Shehab.ps reported on Monday. He called specifically for acts of civil disobedience in the occupied West Bank.
The veteran activist and member of the Islamic-Christian Committee to Protect Holy Sites told Shehab that the Palestinian resistance should establish an army and announce obligatory service across Palestine and in the diaspora. Protest tents, he added, should be erected in front of the office of PA President Mahmoud Abbas to “scream” in his face.
Father Manuel Musallam of Jerusalem Patriarchate in besieged Gaza Strip, a relentless voice of Palestine from Gaza, is in advisory hospital as he fell today and broke his leg and underwent surgery that was successful!
May Almighty help Father Musallam to get well soon!
By SC pic.twitter.com/dMgBVye4AW— mcmounes (@mcmounes) June 4, 2018
Monsignor Musallam explained:
“He [Abbas] must not be let go while Gaza is suffering. He and the PLO must be compelled to lift their sanctions on Gaza.”
This, he suggested, could not be achieved peacefully, but through massive demonstrations and civil disobedience.
“The problem which Fatah does not recognize is that the Palestinian people are not ruled by a single faction. The Palestinians must choose their leadership from all the Palestinian factions.”
Reverend Father Manuel Musallam of Gaza Strip, Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine:
I am a Christian Palestinian Priest https://t.co/F9HpneNe7v via @YouTube— mcmounes (@mcmounes) August 16, 2018
Regarding Donald Trump’s so-called deal of the century, the Catholic priest said that it has been ongoing since 1948 when Palestine was occupied and includes the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem, Judaisation, and settlements as well as Israeli aggression.
“The deal of the century is an illusion, not a reality, and our slogan against it must be resistance from the beginning until the end.”
10 Things You Need to Know about 'Deal of the Century' – https://t.co/930WhBMLbV
— Steven Hudson (@itsstevenhudson) July 12, 2018
Asked about the Jewish Nation-State Law, Musallam said that this emanated from the infamous Balfour Declaration in 1917, which promised a national home for the Jewish people.
As far as the current truce is concerned, he stressed that if resistance itself is legitimate — which it is — “The Palestinian resistance factions must not negotiate about rights.”
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
True grit. If only all priests were like Musallam, leading by example. I met him in Gaza 10 years ago and he’s still full of wisdom and courage. Belongs in the Palestinian Hall of Fame.
I wish the Father speedy recovery. I know him from his videos of interviews and speeches. He is a noble and wise man.