Tweet
PALESTINIAN LEADER CALLS JESUS 'PALESTINIAN MESSENGER' FOR HOMELAND
United Press International UPI
December 23, 2013 Monday 10:32 AM EST
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec. 23
Jesus is a "Palestinian messenger," Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas" said in a Christmas message.
A statement from Abbas Monday told of his people's struggle for a
homeland and decried Israel's security policies.
Calling Jesus a "Palestinian messenger," Abbas said "as we Palestinians
strive for our freedom two millennia later, we do our best to follow
his example," the Times of Israel reported.
"This Christmas Eve, our hearts and prayers will be with the millions
who are being denied their right to worship in their homeland,"
Abbas said -- a reference to Israel's security policies.
"Christians are not a minority here, they are an integral part of
the Palestinian people," he said.
"Orthodox, Catholics, Armenians, Assyrians, Lutherans, Anglicans,
Copts, Melkites, Protestants and others are all part of the rich
mosaic of this free, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Palestine
we aspire to have and as established in our declaration of independence
and draft constitution."
The Christian population in the Middle East is believed to be
declining, largely due to emigration and the rise in more rigid forms
of Islam, observers say.
Abbas said he was committed to peace talks with Israel that included
"the establishment of a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian
state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital."
United Press International UPI
December 23, 2013 Monday 10:32 AM EST
RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec. 23
Jesus is a "Palestinian messenger," Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas" said in a Christmas message.
A statement from Abbas Monday told of his people's struggle for a
homeland and decried Israel's security policies.
Calling Jesus a "Palestinian messenger," Abbas said "as we Palestinians
strive for our freedom two millennia later, we do our best to follow
his example," the Times of Israel reported.
"This Christmas Eve, our hearts and prayers will be with the millions
who are being denied their right to worship in their homeland,"
Abbas said -- a reference to Israel's security policies.
"Christians are not a minority here, they are an integral part of
the Palestinian people," he said.
"Orthodox, Catholics, Armenians, Assyrians, Lutherans, Anglicans,
Copts, Melkites, Protestants and others are all part of the rich
mosaic of this free, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Palestine
we aspire to have and as established in our declaration of independence
and draft constitution."
The Christian population in the Middle East is believed to be
declining, largely due to emigration and the rise in more rigid forms
of Islam, observers say.
Abbas said he was committed to peace talks with Israel that included
"the establishment of a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian
state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital."