On Behalf of the King: Jordan’s Interior Minister Attends Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem
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Representing His Majesty King Abdullah II, Jordan’s Interior Minister Mazen Faraya participated on Tuesday night in the Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, celebrating Christmas for Christian communities following the Eastern calendar.اضافة اعلان
The mass was attended by Dr. Ramzi Khoury, representing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas; Palestinian Interior Minister Ziyad Hab Al-Rih; His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan for the Greek Orthodox Church; as well as a number of political and religious figures and diplomats from around the world.
During the mass, Minister Faraya conveyed the greetings and congratulations of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II to the Christian communities in Palestine on the occasion of Christmas, wishing them a year filled with love, security, and peace.
Faraya emphasized the deep brotherly and historical ties between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples, highlighting the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. He reaffirmed the King’s continuous support for the authentic Christian presence in the holy Palestinian lands, promoting coexistence among Palestinians and supporting their steadfastness, particularly in occupied Jerusalem, in the face of occupation practices aimed at altering its Arab, Christian, and Islamic character.
He also pointed to Jordan’s role in supporting Jerusalemites’ resilience and in strengthening efforts toward establishing an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with a two-state solution that safeguards Palestinian rights and promotes comprehensive and just peace in the region.
Prior to the mass, Minister Faraya attended a Christmas dinner at the Church of the Nativity, alongside Jordanian Ambassador to Palestine Issam Al-Badour, Ramzi Khoury, and Patriarch Theophilos III.
During his visit, Faraya met with Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh, conveying King Abdullah II’s greetings to President Mahmoud Abbas and reaffirming Jordan’s steadfast positions in support of the Palestinian cause. Al-Sheikh expressed his gratitude to Jordan, its government, and people for their unwavering support for Palestinian rights, emphasizing that this reflects the deep historical and brotherly ties between the two nations and strengthens Palestinian resilience.
Khoury noted that Israeli claims of protecting Christians in Palestine do not reflect reality, citing systematic restrictions, attacks on churches and holy sites, limitations on worship, targeting of clergy, and silent displacement threatening the authentic Christian presence in the birthplace of Jesus.
He announced that restoration work on the Nativity Grotto will begin immediately after the Christmas holidays as part of ongoing efforts to preserve the historical and religious sanctity of the site for future generations.
In a related meeting, Minister Faraya met with Palestinian Interior Minister Ziyad Hab Al-Rih to discuss ways to enhance continuous cooperation and coordination between Jordan and Palestine on issues of mutual interest, focusing on developing cooperation mechanisms and supporting regional stability and security.
(Petra)
The mass was attended by Dr. Ramzi Khoury, representing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas; Palestinian Interior Minister Ziyad Hab Al-Rih; His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan for the Greek Orthodox Church; as well as a number of political and religious figures and diplomats from around the world.
During the mass, Minister Faraya conveyed the greetings and congratulations of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II to the Christian communities in Palestine on the occasion of Christmas, wishing them a year filled with love, security, and peace.
Faraya emphasized the deep brotherly and historical ties between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples, highlighting the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. He reaffirmed the King’s continuous support for the authentic Christian presence in the holy Palestinian lands, promoting coexistence among Palestinians and supporting their steadfastness, particularly in occupied Jerusalem, in the face of occupation practices aimed at altering its Arab, Christian, and Islamic character.
He also pointed to Jordan’s role in supporting Jerusalemites’ resilience and in strengthening efforts toward establishing an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with a two-state solution that safeguards Palestinian rights and promotes comprehensive and just peace in the region.
Prior to the mass, Minister Faraya attended a Christmas dinner at the Church of the Nativity, alongside Jordanian Ambassador to Palestine Issam Al-Badour, Ramzi Khoury, and Patriarch Theophilos III.
During his visit, Faraya met with Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh, conveying King Abdullah II’s greetings to President Mahmoud Abbas and reaffirming Jordan’s steadfast positions in support of the Palestinian cause. Al-Sheikh expressed his gratitude to Jordan, its government, and people for their unwavering support for Palestinian rights, emphasizing that this reflects the deep historical and brotherly ties between the two nations and strengthens Palestinian resilience.
Khoury noted that Israeli claims of protecting Christians in Palestine do not reflect reality, citing systematic restrictions, attacks on churches and holy sites, limitations on worship, targeting of clergy, and silent displacement threatening the authentic Christian presence in the birthplace of Jesus.
He announced that restoration work on the Nativity Grotto will begin immediately after the Christmas holidays as part of ongoing efforts to preserve the historical and religious sanctity of the site for future generations.
In a related meeting, Minister Faraya met with Palestinian Interior Minister Ziyad Hab Al-Rih to discuss ways to enhance continuous cooperation and coordination between Jordan and Palestine on issues of mutual interest, focusing on developing cooperation mechanisms and supporting regional stability and security.
(Petra)
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