After the publication in Israel Ha-Yom that the archbishop of Sebastei Attala Nizar Hannah, one of the heads of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, met with President Assad in Damascus, provoked a storm of indignation in Israeli society.

Archbishop, meeting with the Syrian president, expressed his support to him.

The chairman of the Jewish House faction in the Knesset Shuli Mualem-Raphaeli called for a police investigation against Attala Hannah. "He met with Assad, who in the world is considered the murderer of his people. There is nothing that could stop such an investigation. It will be a message for every Israeli holding public office and acting to the detriment of Israel, "said Mualem-Raphaely.

The Likud deputies Miki Zohar and Anat Berko also spoke with the condemnation of the archbishop, who also demanded to bring his judicial responsibility.

Until 2013, Archbishop Atalla Hannah was the only Arab in the episcopate of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, despite the fact that most of her flock are Arab Christians.

He is known as a champion of the rights of the Palestinian people. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Atalla said that "we do not even allow thought of any agreements with Israeli settlers in occupied Jerusalem and beyond, who seek to seize Palestinian property in the city by any means."

June 27, 2015, was detained by the Israeli military in connection with his participation in a protest against the confiscation of the church of Beit Al-Bakar and the subsequent sale of the Beit al-Barak hospital, located at the church. He was held for several hours at the military base of Etzion, north of Hebron, after which he was released.