BETHLEHEM, January 18, 2026 (WAFA) - Representing President Mahmoud Abbas, Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, participated in the Armenian Christmas celebration in Bethlehem.

In his address, Khouri affirmed that the Palestinian Christian presence is an integral and deeply rooted component of the Palestinian national identity and cannot be separated from the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom, dignity, and independence.

He stressed that celebrating the birth of Jesus in the city of Bethlehem, at a time when the Palestinian people continue to endure immense suffering, carries profound national and spiritual significance. He noted that this occasion reaffirms the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their unwavering attachment to their land and identity.

Khouri highlighted the historic role of the Armenian Church in the Holy Land, particularly in preserving Jerusalem’s holy sites and safeguarding its heritage. He emphasized that the Armenian Church has long stood, and continues to stand, as a living witness to the deep-rooted and authentic Palestinian Christian presence.

He reaffirmed the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to protecting the authentic Christian presence in Palestine and defending its rights and institutions, considering it an inseparable part of the Palestinian people and a key partner in confronting policies of Judaization and forced displacement.

Khouri concluded by stressing that the message of Christmas, with its profound meanings of love, sacrifice, and redemption, constitutes a call to strengthen national unity, uphold hope, and intensify joint efforts to end injustice and achieve a just and lasting peace.

T.R.