President Amin Gemayel announced in a statement that “the arrest of the Patriarchal Vicar General, Archbishop Musa al-Hajj, while he is on a pastoral and humanitarian mission, and his summoning for investigation before the military court constitute a described stab fired by an obsolete political-judicial-security thought against the value and role represented by the Sovereignty of the Archdiocese of the Holy Land through Taking care of the conditions of the Maronites, as well as all the Christian and Muslim sects in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
He added: “While we condemn the incident, we point out that the judicial and security agencies, with a political recommendation, are determined to prove their ability and exercise their authority over one group that is being unfairly targeted, at a time when those wanted for justice enjoy all means of protection, honor and promotion.”
He continued, “While we reject the political message addressed to Bkerke in response to her national positions, we are counting on a pressing national position to stop these abnormal and sterile practices that reflect a ridiculous police approach that threatens the civil peace process. The Supreme Judicial Council, the Army Commander and the Director General of Public Security, who have the authority to stop this farce – the scandal.”
President Amin Gemayel had called the Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Al-Ra’i, denouncing the attack on Archbishop Moussa Al-Hajj.