Sheikh Yassin urged Pope to declare his refusal to Jerusalem's occupation

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Islamic resistance movement Hamas, urged Pope John Paul II to declare his refusal to Jerusalem's occupation and joining it to Israel, saying in press declarations yesterday that "we want that the Pope raises his voice to refuse the Israeli occupation to lands by force, adding that the Pope's visit to Jerusalem at the end of the current month is considered an indication on his and the church's refusal to Israel's occupation to the sacred city."

Sheikh Yassin welcomed the visit and considered the Pope's apology on mistakes committed by followers of the Catholic church against people of religions and races is a good step that must be followed by practical ones'.