The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine has wrapped up its official European tour in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. During the visit, the delegation met with several political, diplomatic, and religious figures and visited the Slovenian Parliament.
This visit is part of the Committee’s broader efforts to garner international and ecclesiastical support for the Palestinian cause, with a focus on safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people and bolstering their resilience in their homeland.
The delegation was comprised of Ambassador Amira Hanania, member of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine and its representative in Europe; Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb, founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem; Reverend Dr. Fadi Diab, rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ramallah; and Father Sandro Tomasevic, advisor to the Custody of the Holy Land. They were joined by Palestine’s non-resident ambassador to Slovenia, Salah Abdul Shafi, and advisor Ehab Al-Ghoul.
The delegation held several meetings, including with Jana Jenc, Deputy Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mons. Stanislav Zore, Catholic Archbishop of Ljubljana, Mag. Leon Novak, Bishop of the Lutheran Church; former prime minister of Slovenia, Lojze Peterle, and members of the Slovenian Parliament. In addition, the delegation conducted multiple press briefings.
The delegation emphasized that the international community’s silence on Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem continues to hinder peace and stability in the Middle East. They highlighted the devastating brunt of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of thousands of women and children. Additionally, they drew attention to the daily aggressions by Israeli occupation forces and settlers against Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the continued Israeli violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites, along with the confiscation of property belonging to churches and the Palestinian people have also severely harmed the Christian Palestinian presence in Palestine.
The delegation praised Slovenia for its recognition of the State of Palestine, calling it a pivotal step toward upholding international law and justice. The delegation emphasized that Slovenia is on the right side of history by supporting efforts to end the oppression of the Palestinian people and to achieve justice.
The delegation called for stronger international efforts to stop the ongoing aggression in Gaza, urging the global community to take concrete steps to implement UN resolutions related to Palestine. This includes ending the Israeli occupation and recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
This European tour, which included visits to Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, is part of the Committee’s ongoing global campaign to garner international support for the Palestinian cause, aiming to end injustice and promote peace and justice for the Palestinian people.
