The Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs, headed by His Excellency Minister Dr. Ramzi Khoury, Director General of the National Fund and President of the committee with Ambassador Amira Hanania, Director General of the Committee, visit three towns in the governorate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh (Birzeit, Jifna and Taybeh).
HE Mr. Khoury conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas and expressed his joy for this visit, adding that the President attaches the utmost importance to the Christian presence in Palestine, especially in the occupied Jerusalem, where its inhabitants are subject to daily harassments, continuous incursions of AL-Aqsa Mosque, violations of the sanctities and places of worship by the settlers under the protection of the Israeli police and the illegal seizure of properties belonging to churches by settler groups. He stressed that the president is exerting all efforts through the committee to stop the flow of immigration through many projects carried out by the committee, whether educational, health, or housing, in addition to job opportunities for young people, by encouraging local businessmen and expatriates to invest in Palestine.
In the meeting they discussed the issues and challenges the locals are facing, where Dr.khoury stressed the readiness of the committee to support any projects offered by these institutions, which aim to develop and serve the community in general and the Christians in particular.
Furthermore, they discussed the Committee’s preparations for Christmas and the meetings that were previously held in this context with all security officials and local institutions involved in the Christmas festivals, to promote the festivities in Palestine especially in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
In Birzeit, the delegation was welcomed by Mayor Ibrahim Saad and members of the Municipal Council, Archbishop Philomenos and Father Louis Hazboun of the Latin Church, as well as representatives of social institutions in Birzeit.
In Taybeh, the delegation of the committee was welcomed at the municipality by the Mayor Mr. Nadim Barakat, members of the municipal council, along with Fr. Johnny Abu Khalil, pastor of the Latin Church, Father Daoud Khoury, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church, Father Jacques Abed, pastor of the Roman Catholic Church, Mr.Tamer Nasrallah Principle of the Latin School and by the Al-Taybeh women’s charitable society and Scouts.
In Jifna , they met with the Mayor Mr. Amjad Awwad along with members of the village council, pastor of the Latin Church, members of the Greek Orthodox Church and representatives of social institutions.
The three Mayors expressed their happiness and gratitude for this visit, which in turn strengthens the relations between the community and the state and allows the opportunity to convey the concerns and problems facing their regions, and the need to join hands to promote these towns because of their long national and Christian history.
