UK

Boris Johnson thought he met the descendant of Jesus Christ's babysitter

Boris Johnson had a confusing conversation with Palestinian president Ziad Al-Bandak
Boris Johnson had a confusing conversation with Palestinian president Ziad Al-Bandak Boris Johnson had a confusing conversation with Palestinian president Ziad Al-Bandak

BORIS Johnson was left confused in Jerusalem’s sacred Old City after hearing an adviser to the Palestinian president claim to be related to Jesus’s babysitter.

The London mayor initially misheard Ziad Al-Bandak and believed he was claiming to have family ties with the son of God.

As it turns out, it was just a good-natured joke stressing the deep-rooted ties of Christians in the area.

A tad disappointing, we know.

During the Old City tour, Al-Bandak told the MP: “My grand, grand, grand, grandmother used to be the babysitter of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Johnson replied: “I’m sure that’s true. And Adam and Eve had a role in that – and Abraham.”

Al-Bandak replied: “Abraham was before that.”

Johnson pressed: “So you are related to Jesus?” The adviser to Mahmoud Abbas said: “Yes.”

(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Conservative MP added: “My God. Isn’t there a book about that? The Da Vinci Code?”

Al-Bandak replied: “No, the Da Vinci Code is very cynical.”

Still appearing to be unsure about what he had heard, Johnson asked: “So you’re related to Jesus?” It was then clarified Al-Bandak said babysitter.

Johnson said: “I thought you said his baby sister.

“I was thinking Christ, because according to Luke he did have brothers and sisters.”

Al-Bandak, an adviser on Christian national and international relations, confirmed: “I’m not related.”

The mayor joked there would have been considerable Hollywood interest in Al-Bandak’s story if he was related to Jesus. At this point, Al-Bandak clarified he was joking.

Johnson is on the final day of his swift trade trip to Israel and Palestine, which included heading to the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The compound is the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism. He visited the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall and Holy Church of the Sepulchre.