The delegation of the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs has completed its official visit to the Netherlands, headed by Ambassador Amira Hanania, Director General of the Committee, along with Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, Counselor of the Custody of the Holy Land. Fr. Yusef Hodali, pastor of St. Nicolas church in Beit Jala. Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb, Founder and President of Dar al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture in Bethlehem.. Dr. Bishara Awad ,founder and honorary president of Bethlehem Bible College, in the presence of H.E Rawan Suleiman, Ambassador of the State of Palestine in the Netherlands.
The delegation met with Ambassador Jos Douma, Special Envoy of Religion and Belief at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The delegation briefed the Ambassador on the situation of Palestinian Christians and the challenges they face on a daily basis due to the illegal measures and violations perpetrated by the Israeli occupation. They amplified the voices of Palestinian society and talked about the importance of preserving and maintaining the existence of Palestinian Christians in Palestine. Furthermore, they reiterated the important role that the Dutch government can play in bringing peace to the region
The delegation also honoured former Prime Minister Driss Bannakht, with a shield decorated with a verse from the Holy Gospel “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” in recognition of his courageous and supportive stances on the rights and cause of the Palestinian people.
The delegation met with members of the Council of Churches of the Netherlands in Amersfoort. On the program were the many problems of the Palestinian Christian community living under occupation. The committee called on their brothers and sisters to speak out in the face of injustice.
Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb gave a lecture at Radboud University in Nijmegen as part of the Radboud Reflects Lecture series entitled “The Holy Land”.
Ambassador Hanania invited the Council to visit Palestine to see the challenges on the ground and witness the current situation, especially in the Holy City. Stressing that the conflict is not a religious conflict as the Israeli government wants to portrait between Jews and Muslims, but it is an explicit political conflict and occupation, which the victims of it are the Muslims and Christians of Palestine. The delegation concluded the tour on a visit to the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Party (CDA). The delegation called on all to pray for Palestine and the Palestinian people and their just cause and to work to raise the voice of peace to end the occupation.