Arutz-7 scoop: Irineos, unrecognized leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and a candidate for the post of Greek Orthodox Patriarch, was caught lying to soldiers and trying to smuggle a gun to Yasser Arafat.
Prime Minister Sharon supported Irineos' candidacy last year, but agreed - at the behest of several Cabinet ministers - to hold up the appointment until the end of a police investigation against Irineos. The Greek Orthodox priest is a close friend of Yasser Arafat, strongly supports the PA in its struggle against Israel, and has deep-seated anti-Semitic sensitivities.
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the incidents in question occurred in the middle and end of October. On October 15, Irineos arrived at the northern Jerusalem A-Ram checkpoint, explaining that he wished to visit Arafat in the Mukata in Ramallah. The soldiers asked him if he had a weapon, he answered no, the soldiers checked his vehicle - and found a gun. The forces then informed him that a Foreign Ministry permit would no longer suffice to allow him to enter Area A [under PA control], and instead he would need permission from the IDF liaison office.
Eleven days later, on Oct. 26, Irineos requested a permit from the IDF liaison office to enter Ramallah - and the request was denied. He attempted to enter anyway, arriving with a delegation of aides at the Bituniya checkpoint instead of A-Ram, where he knew that he would be recognized. The Bituniya soldiers asked him if he had the required permits, and he said yes. The suspicious soldiers conducted a further check with their superiors, and found that not only did he not have a permit, but he had actually been refused one.
Irineos then began yelling at the soldiers, and some of his aides even attempted to push them. "You have no respect for a man of religion," Irineos shouted.
In the past, Irineos has offered to grant church-owned lands in Jerusalem to the PA. The church's large holdings include such properties as those on which stand the Knesset, the Prime Minister's Home and the President's Residence. Irineos has also written blatantly anti-Semitic remarks. On July 17, 2001, he wrote to Arafat, "You are aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine."
As Patriarch, Irineos would have the right to represent the Greek Orthodox Church in real estate dealings, and would be an official representative at state functions.
Prime Minister Sharon supported Irineos' candidacy last year, but agreed - at the behest of several Cabinet ministers - to hold up the appointment until the end of a police investigation against Irineos. The Greek Orthodox priest is a close friend of Yasser Arafat, strongly supports the PA in its struggle against Israel, and has deep-seated anti-Semitic sensitivities.
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the incidents in question occurred in the middle and end of October. On October 15, Irineos arrived at the northern Jerusalem A-Ram checkpoint, explaining that he wished to visit Arafat in the Mukata in Ramallah. The soldiers asked him if he had a weapon, he answered no, the soldiers checked his vehicle - and found a gun. The forces then informed him that a Foreign Ministry permit would no longer suffice to allow him to enter Area A [under PA control], and instead he would need permission from the IDF liaison office.
Eleven days later, on Oct. 26, Irineos requested a permit from the IDF liaison office to enter Ramallah - and the request was denied. He attempted to enter anyway, arriving with a delegation of aides at the Bituniya checkpoint instead of A-Ram, where he knew that he would be recognized. The Bituniya soldiers asked him if he had the required permits, and he said yes. The suspicious soldiers conducted a further check with their superiors, and found that not only did he not have a permit, but he had actually been refused one.
Irineos then began yelling at the soldiers, and some of his aides even attempted to push them. "You have no respect for a man of religion," Irineos shouted.
In the past, Irineos has offered to grant church-owned lands in Jerusalem to the PA. The church's large holdings include such properties as those on which stand the Knesset, the Prime Minister's Home and the President's Residence. Irineos has also written blatantly anti-Semitic remarks. On July 17, 2001, he wrote to Arafat, "You are aware of the sentiments of disgust and disrespect that all the Holy Sepulchre fathers are feeling for the descendants of the crucifiers of our Lord... actual crucifiers of your people, Sionists [sic] Jewish conquerors of the Holy Land of Palestine."
As Patriarch, Irineos would have the right to represent the Greek Orthodox Church in real estate dealings, and would be an official representative at state functions.