Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, convened a preparatory meeting to organize Christmas celebrations according to the Western calendar. The meeting took place at the Palestinian Presidential Headquarters in Bethlehem and included Father Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land; Bethlehem Governor Muhammad Taha Abu Alia; members of the presidential committee; representatives of local security agencies; and officials from the municipalities of Bethlehem and Beit Jala.
The meeting focused on logistical preparations for welcoming official delegations, in line with national directives and the collective decisions of church leaders in Jerusalem. These decisions called for limiting celebrations to religious rituals, amid Israel’s continued crimes against the Palestinian people who continue to endure ongoing slaughter, destruction, and genocide in Gaza, alongside ongoing violations in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Participants underscored the importance of Bethlehem’s enduring message of peace to the world, especially in a year marked by the absence of pilgrims for the second consecutive time. This absence has robbed the “City of Peace” and the birthplace of Jesus Christ of the opportunity to experience the festive joy of Christmas like other places around the world.
The Christmas season’s ceremonial events will commence next Saturday with the reception of Father Francesco Patton, Custodian of the Holy Land, into Bethlehem. This marks the start of the Christmas and St. Catherine’s Day celebrations, bringing a message of hope and resilience from Bethlehem to the world.
