Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Hilarion Capucci died on Sunday in his home in Italy, aged 94. Capucci was arrested for smuggling weapons to Fatah in 1974 and was imprisoned in Israel, before being released into exile at the Vatican's intervention. Capucci, known as one of the prominent voices for the Palestinian cause, was born in Aleppo, Syria, to an Arab family descended from Turks. He moved to east Jerusalem in 1965. In 1974, Capucci was caught by Israeli security forces smuggling arms to be used to commit terrorist attacks in central Jerusalem. In his defense, he claimed the weapons in his possession -- among them AK-47s, pistols and explosives -- had been planted in his vehicle. The Shin Bet security agency, however, obtained a letter from his Palestinian handler, a senior Fatah official, that supported the accusations against Capucci. Capucci admitted taking advantage of his diplomatic status as a Catholic archbishop to smuggle weapons. He hid them in his church in Beit Hanina, east Jerusalem, for Fatah operatives. Capucci was sentenced to 12 years in prison for these crimes, but served only three years before being released after a request from the Vatican. Decades later, Capucci participated in the Mavi Marmara flotilla from Turkey in 2010, aimed at breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers who boarded the trespassing boats were attacked by activists, 10 of whom were killed in the ensuing clashes. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wrote that the entire Palestinian people mourn the death of one of its great freedom fighters. Both Fatah and Hamas expressed their great sorrow at Capucci's death.
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שיתוף כתבה
Archbishop, imprisoned for aiding Palestinian terror, dies at 94
PA President Mahmoud Abbas: Entire Palestinian people mourn death of great freedom fighter • Archbishop caught with weapons in vehicle in 1974, uses diplomatic immunity to support Palestinian terrorism • Exiled from Israel at Vatican's request.