Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in Palestine, Dr. Ramzi Khouri met with the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem, Anba Antonius, and their accompanying delegation.
Khouri conveyed warm greetings, blessings, and sincere regards from His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and to the entire Coptic Church community, commending His Holiness’s tireless efforts and collaborative initiative with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmad al-Tayeb, in establishing a joint committee that brings together representatives from al-Azhar and various Egyptian Churches to champion the cause of the Palestinian people and defend their rights.
Meanwhile, Anba Antonius, the Coptic Orthodox Bishop, reflected on the challenging circumstances surrounding Christmas. He stated that Bethlehem, on this festive occasion, resembles a bride donned in a wedding dress stained with blood, torn between celebrating the birth of Christ, the king of peace, and mourning the painful events unfolding in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
