Pope Walks Out of Dialogue After Fanatic Palestian Imam Goes Bonkers

Seems the sheikh went overboard. I saw the film clip on Channel One TV and found this report:

Palestinian sheik slams Israel during papal visit

An incident was reported during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Notre-Dame Hotel in east Jerusalem, when after his speech, a Palestinian sheik took the stage and slammed Israel.

Sheikh Taiseer al-Tamimi, head of the Palestinian Authority's Sharia Courts, blamed Israel for "destroying Palestinian citing and erecting settlements on Palestinian land. Jerusalem will remain the Palestinian people's capital and it is up to the other religions to defend the Palestinians and their lands," he said.

Pope was p*ssed that his words were not in accordance with the purpose of the dialogue session and walked out.


UPDATE

Chief Islamic Judge of the Palestinian Authority, Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, launched a poisonous verbal attack at Israel at a Monday night gathering attended by Pope Benedict XVI.

In a meeting with organizations involved in inter-religious dialogue at the Notre Dame Jerusalem Center, Tamimi called upon Muslims and Christians to unite against what he said were the murderous Israelis.

Taking the podium after the pope without being on the original list of speakers scheduled for the evening, Tamimi accused Israel of murdering women and children in Gaza and making Palestinians refugees, and declared Jerusalem the eternal Palestinian capital...

Minutes after the embarrassing occurrence, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See press office, released a response to the incident.

"The intervention of Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi was not previewed by the organizers of the interreligious meeting that took place at Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem," the message read. "In a meeting dedicated to dialogue, this intervention was a direct negation of what [it] should be," it continued.

"We hope that such an incident will not damage the mission of the Holy Father aiming at promoting peace and interreligious dialogue, as he has clearly affirmed in many occasions in this pilgrimage," Father Lombardi added.

P.S.

Last month, Tamimi reissued a warning to Palestinians against selling their homes or properties to Jews, saying those who violated the order would be accused of "high treason" - a charge that carries the death penalty.


UPDATE - II

Latin Patriach of Jerusalem Fouad Twal attempted without success to get Tamimi to stop speaking. Although some people in the room applauded the remarks, others appeared distinctly uncomfortable.

It was not clear whether Benedict understood what Tamimi was saying.

The meeting, attended by Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, ended after Tamimi's tirade.