wfn.org | Israeli Officials Apologize to Bishop for Shooting Incident

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Contact: Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O. Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 or 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Website: http://www.lpj.org/
Website: http://members.nbci.com/nonviolence

NAZARETH, Israel, January 10, 2001--- Two Israeli officials came here today 
to apologize to Latin Catholic Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo after soldiers 
in the Israeli Defense Forces threatened him and discharged weapons near his 
official automobile.

The two Ministers, Mr. Yossi Belin and Mr. Matan Vilnai, called on Marcuzzo 
who is Patriarchal Vicar in Nazareth and on two other priests who accompanied 
the Bishop on an pastoral visit to an aged and ailing priest in the West Bank 
town of Zababdeh.  

The Israeli officials  presented an official apology on behalf of the 
Government.

Bishop Marcuzzo had written to Prime Minister Ehud Barak to "strongly protest 
against the behavior of the officers and soldiers of the Bezeq camp for their 
dangerous, irresponsible, unjustified and violent threat against myself and 
other two Priests and a Sister." 

"Here are the facts," the Bishop wrote to the Prime Minister yesterday: "On 
the 9th of January 2001 in the afternoon, in my diplomatic car having a very 
visible church patriarchal flag, accompanied by Fr. Elie Kurzum (Israeli 
I.D), Fr. Elias Odeh (American passport) and a Sister (American passport), I 
was on my way to Zababdeh  for my pastoral, religious and humanitarian duties 
as Bishop.
   
"As we arrived at about 3:00 p.m. by the military camp called Bezeq, near 
Zababdeh, three soldiers ran out of the camp pointing the guns against us and 
shouting on us, 'Stop, stop.' 

"We stopped on the right of the road waiting at a distance of about 15 
meters.  After a while, Fr. Elie asked what we have to do.  A soldier 
shouted: 'Shut up, go back.  Otherwise I shoot on your head'. 

"Immediately without asking us to identify ourselves, the soldiers started to 
shoot towards the car, at least three bullets passed very near to me.  I 
repeat, very near to me.
    
"We turned back.  Passing by the military camp of Baraq to denounce the 
facts.  The officer of the camp understood the situation and was cooperative. 
 He intervened personally to the officer of the Bezeq camp, who allowed us to 
pass, and we informed him that we would come back one hour later.  They 
agreed. 

"But as we arrived there at about 4:00 p.m. the same reaction happened. They 
pointed the guns against us and threatened us again without any questions.  
We were obliged to go back to Nazareth by a very long and hard way.
 
"Such a treatment is inadmissible and irresponsible, " the Bishop wrote.  
"The Palestinian territories are living an intolerable closure and hard 
isolation.  The lives of priests and bishops are threatened in the 
accomplishment of their pastoral and humanitarian work." 

He also charged that "This action was a violation of the Fundamental 
Agreement signed between the State of Israel and the Holy See, which gives 
freedom of movement and activity for the religious duties.  It is in the same 
time against the diplomatic regulations."

Bishop Marcuzzo asked the Israeli Authorities to issue a strong condemnation 
of the situation, and for an official apology to the Church.  

He also called on the Prime Minister "to take proper measures against those 
soldiers, to give formal instructions to the officers and the soldiers and to 
alleviate the measures of isolation in the Palestinian territories. "  

After the visit of the two Israeli Ministers, Bishop Marcuzzo said,  "We are 
grateful to them.  They showed good understanding and good will to our 
requests." 

But, he said, "We are waiting for the practical application of their 
declarations."   Bishop Marcuzzo is also Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, and 
Titular Bishop of Emmaus.

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