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Topic: Catholic Patriarch Visits Arafat

Contact: Fr. Raed Awad Abussahlin
The Latin (Catholic) Patriarchate of Jerusalem
(972-2) 628-2323
Email: latinpat@actcom.co.il

JERUSALEM, November 6, 2000---His Beatitude the Patriarch Michel Sabbah
visited today Gaza and met with President Yasser Arafat in order to express
to him the Christian solidarity with the Palestinian leadership in it's
efforts to end the violence and reach a just and lasting peace.
Patriarch Sabbah extended to Mr. Arafat the best wishes of the Pope and
Catholic Pontiff's concern about the actual situation. It seems that the
visit was very friendly to the point that Mr. Arafat invited the Patriarch to
launch with him.

A small delegation of Latin Catholic priests accompanied the Patriarch: Fr.
Maroun Lahham, Director of the Seminary in Beit Jala, Fr. William Shomaly the
Patriarchate's general administrator in Jerusalem, and Fr. Manuel Musallam
parish priest in Gaza who is known to be a close friend of Mr. Arafat.
Among the more than one million of Palestinians in Gaza, around 5.000
Christians are living there, most of them Greek Orthodox. The Latin Parish
is very small, not more than 500 persons. The church maintains, however, a
school of more than 1000 students, most of whom are Muslims. Another new
school is under construction.

The Latin Catholic presence in Gaza also involves many Christian relief
agencies that have worked among refugees there for more 50 years. These
include Catholic Relief Services and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, as
well as several religious congregations. The Little Sisters of Jesus are
working in Al-Shate refugee camp, and the Missionary Sisters of Charity
(Sisters of Mother Teresa) are working with handicapped people for more than
20 years. The Rosary Sisters are working in the parish church and began the
new school this year.

The Christian presence among the Palestinian leadership is very considerable;
most of the close associates of President Arafat are Christians, including
Dr. Ramzi Khoury, Nabil Abu-Rudeina, Dr. Sami Musallam. The Minister of
Tourism Mr. Abu Eitah, and nine representatives in the National Legislative
Council are Christians.

The founders of several Palestinian organizations are Christians, including
Mr. Naif Hawatmeh founder of Democratic Front and George Habash founder of
Popular Front.

Christians in the Holy Land are Palestinians and are an integral part of the
history, geography and demography of the Palestinian people. They share the
same sufferings and problems, as well as the hopes and aspirations of the
Palestinian people.

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