Archbishop George Hakim, of the Greek Catholic Church, on a visit here from Israel, today expressed belief that the Vatican Ecumenical Council will pass a strong statement condemning anti-Semitism when it reconvenes in September.
Stating that he personally favored such a statement, the archbishop voiced conviction that the majority of the 120 Arabic-speaking bishops also favor it. But the Arab bishops, he emphasized, cannot be expected to go along with any statement that might give Israel a political advantage.
The archbishop told the press at an interview at Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary that condemnation of anti-Semitism was righteous, and should not be equated with political approval of the State or Israel. The prelate, whose full title is Archbishop of Nazareth and will Galilee, went on to say that the position of Arabs in Israel has much improved, especially since 1960, when Arabs were admitted more widely into trade unions.
“On religious grounds we have complete freedom, but on political grounds there are some restrictions,” he said: Restrictions imposed on the Arabs included regulations concerning personal property and the freedom to move about the country, he claimed.
Realizing that “Israel is here to stay,” the Arabs have relinquished hope of regaining the land, said the archbishop. All the Arabs want now, he said, was justice and equality. As leader of the Melkite Rite Catholics in Israel, he has 33,000 followers, mainly concentrated around Nazareth and Haifa.
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