Fatah officials: "Jesus was the first Palestinian"
Headline: "Al-Ahmad: Khan Al-Ahmar demonstrates our unity, through which we will put an end to the occupation"
"Dozens of members of our people lit the Christmas tree last night [Dec. 19, 2018] in the village of Khan Al-Ahmar (a site where Palestinian Bedouins illegally erected dwellings; see note below –Ed.), east of occupied Jerusalem.
PLO Executive Committee member and Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad said: 'The lighting of the Christmas tree each year has many meanings in Palestine.' …
He added: 'Christmas is one of the permanent Palestinian symbols, and the whole world follows Mass in Bethlehem… The children of Khan Al-Ahmar are happy about the lighting of this tree, as it is the symbol of the first Palestinian, Jesus, peace be upon him. We, the members of the Palestinian people, are celebrating Christmas together with everyone in the land of Palestine.' … Secretary-General of the National Initiative [and PA Parliament member] Mustafa Barghouti… said: 'Jesus, who was born on this land, was a Palestinian and defeated his suffering. This tree hints at an additional victory that the members of our people will achieve at Khan Al-Ahmar.'"
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Azzam Al-Ahmad also holds the positions of head of the PLO Department of Arab and Parliamentary Affairs, Fatah Commissioner of National Relations (i.e., between Hamas and Fatah), and Fatah Commissioner for Relations with Lebanon.
Khan Al-Ahmar is a site where Palestinian Bedouins have illegally erected dwellings and a school, mostly simple shacks, on land in Area C (i.e., land under full Israeli administration according to the Oslo Accords). The Israeli authorities have ordered the demolition of these structures and offered alternative sites for them. A number of petitions to the Israeli Supreme Court against the demolition orders have been considered and then rejected by the court. As of Dec. 23, 2018, the illegally constructed buildings have not been demolished. Palestinians have held protests at the site against the demolition, some of which have turned violent.
"Dozens of members of our people lit the Christmas tree last night [Dec. 19, 2018] in the village of Khan Al-Ahmar (a site where Palestinian Bedouins illegally erected dwellings; see note below –Ed.), east of occupied Jerusalem.
PLO Executive Committee member and Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad said: 'The lighting of the Christmas tree each year has many meanings in Palestine.' …
He added: 'Christmas is one of the permanent Palestinian symbols, and the whole world follows Mass in Bethlehem… The children of Khan Al-Ahmar are happy about the lighting of this tree, as it is the symbol of the first Palestinian, Jesus, peace be upon him. We, the members of the Palestinian people, are celebrating Christmas together with everyone in the land of Palestine.' … Secretary-General of the National Initiative [and PA Parliament member] Mustafa Barghouti… said: 'Jesus, who was born on this land, was a Palestinian and defeated his suffering. This tree hints at an additional victory that the members of our people will achieve at Khan Al-Ahmar.'"
Click to view bulletin
Azzam Al-Ahmad also holds the positions of head of the PLO Department of Arab and Parliamentary Affairs, Fatah Commissioner of National Relations (i.e., between Hamas and Fatah), and Fatah Commissioner for Relations with Lebanon.
Khan Al-Ahmar is a site where Palestinian Bedouins have illegally erected dwellings and a school, mostly simple shacks, on land in Area C (i.e., land under full Israeli administration according to the Oslo Accords). The Israeli authorities have ordered the demolition of these structures and offered alternative sites for them. A number of petitions to the Israeli Supreme Court against the demolition orders have been considered and then rejected by the court. As of Dec. 23, 2018, the illegally constructed buildings have not been demolished. Palestinians have held protests at the site against the demolition, some of which have turned violent.
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