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12 September 2023

Your Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Reverend Jerry Pillay, Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches, Distinguished guests and ambassadors,

Firstly, I would like to convey greetings from His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine, and my fellow members of the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine.

I extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of you for hosting this artistic, religious, historical, and heritage exhibition, "The Church of the Nativity Exhibition."

Your support for the Palestinian people is evident through this event and holds a significant place in the hearts of Palestinian Christians, especially the residents of Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory.

 I also express my gratitude to all the entities that contributed to the preparation and success of this exhibition, particularly the Palestinian private sector, represented by CCC-Palestine, Bank of Palestine, and the Palestinian Investment Fund.

As you may know, the Church of the Nativity is one of the oldest churches in the world, dating back to the year 313 AD. It witnessed the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and carried a message of justice, peace, and love to the world. Sadly, today it is surrounded by the Apartheid wall, which separates it from its twin, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

This siege on the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ reflects the immense suffering experienced by our Palestinian people, both inside and outside their homeland. Israeli authorities deny them the right to access their city and their churches, violating international agreements that guarantee freedom of worship.

Distinguished guests, The Church of the Nativity, rings the bells of churches to echo its call to capitals around the world and all churches across the globe. It calls for justice and the lifting of historical injustices to the Palestinian people, granting us all our rights in accordance with relevant international legitimacy. We do not ask for the impossible.

 Our demand is for our people to live a dignified life free from occupation, like any other nation in the world, to build a prosperous future and preserve, with your assistance, the remaining Palestinian Christian presence in the Holy Land. Our people, despite all obstacles mentioned and more, are a resilient people who safeguard their heritage and sanctities.

 In your name, I extend profound gratitude to all nations and international organizations and all those who contributed to the restoration of the Church of the Nativity, preserving this global heritage.

Special thanks are also due to His Eminence Patriarch Theophilos III, the Custodian of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate for facilitating all the necessary procedures for the restoration work to begin. I hope you enjoy exploring the Church of the Nativity Exhibition, and I take this opportunity to invite you to visit Palestine and the Nativity Church, especially as we approach the festive Christmas season. We pray to the Almighty that the coming year brings a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, granting our people freedom, dignity, and independence on our national soil, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to welcoming you to the city of our Lord, Bethlehem.

Dr. Ramzi Khoury Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman of the High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs