Palestinian Archbishop Atallah Hanna: 'What's happening is a US conspiracy'

Atallah Hanna, the Palestinian Archbishop of Sebastia, in the Greek Orthodox church, told Middle East Eye that Palestinians and the city of Jerusalem are entering a stage of "dangerous escalation" from the US and Israel.

"Palestinians in any place or time, they always spoke of Jerusalem as their capital. The US decision is unprecedented. What encouraged Trump to make it is the unstable situations in the Arab countries," Hanna said.

"If you witnessed how the Israeli settlers cursed on Sunday the religious symbols of Palestinian Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem, you would know that we are witnessing hatred and racism."

Hanna added that Palestinian people would keep demanding their rights, including Jerusalem as their future capital, and the right of return, according to UN resolutions.

"What's happening is a US conspiracy against the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people", he said.