State President greets the Christians for Christmas

On the occasion of Christmas, the State President, Mr. Shimon Peres, paid an official visit to the residence of Archbishop Chacour in Haifa. The President sang traditional Christmas carols with the children of the Christian Arab school in Ibilin and delivered a greeting to the Christian faithful in Israel and throughout the world saying; “It is for me a privilege, as President of the State of Israel, to send profound wishes on behalf of all of Israel for a Happy Christmas to the whole Christian world and to express the hope that the Middle East may enter an era of peace and prosperity. The State of Israel is committed to protecting all the holy sites and the freedom of worship for everyone. In the Holy Land coexistence between Jews, Christians and Muslims will continue. From the city of Haifa, a model of peace and coexistence, I wish to send one clear message to the world – a message of peace and unity between all faiths, between all nations."

President Peres stressed the positive relations between Israel and the Vatican and reflect Israel's commitment to freedom of worship. President Peres said, "I have enormous respect for the Pope, I appreciate his concern and action to preserve the good relations in the Christian world. Relations between Jerusalem and the Vatican are excellent and warm, the best they have ever been." President Peres blessed the members of the Christian community in Israel and said, "We are proud of the Christian community in Israel and are also proud that they feel fully at home, completely free to worship in their own way and to continue with their own traditions. I wish them and all Christians everywhere a Happy Christmas."

President Peres was welcomed to the event by school children in the choir wearing traditional dress as well as by the heads of the Christian communities in the Galilee and at their head Archbishop Elias Chacour who greeted him saying: “I thank the State President for coming to greet the Christian communities on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. The Christian community in Israel is small but proud to be citizens of Israel. The Christian community will continue to work in collaboration to build up the country hand in hand and should to shoulder with Jews and Muslims.”