Day: 15 December 2021

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Official delegation meets Armenian Patriarch over Armenian Christian presence in Palestine

An official Palestinian delegation Monday met the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, Catholicos Karekin II, at his Echmiadzin headquarters in the Armenian city of Vagharshapat.

Chairman of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, Minister Ramzi Khoury, who led the delegation, conveyed to Patriarch Karekin II the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas, and his invitation to the Catholicos to visit Palestine, as reported by Keghart, a news website devoted to Armenian Affairs.

The meeting touched on the importance of preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East, the protection of the Armenian Christian sanctuaries and historical-cultural heritage, with special reference to the issue of leasing the “Cows’ Garden” estate by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

He stressed the importance of complying with international law and the UN resolutions, including in the occupied city of Jerusalem, and the preservation of the historical and legal status quo as well as the religious mosaic in the city.

The delegation held similar meetings with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, at the Presidential Palace, as well as with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Minister Khoury conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to President Sarkissian and the friendly Armenian people, handing him the President’s message, and touching on the importance of developing Palestinian-Armenian relations, and ways to strengthen them in all fields.

He also thanked Sarkissian for Armenia’s supportive stances for the Palestinian people’s issues in all forums.

The delegation comprised Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, Committee member Ambassador Issa Kassisieh, and Ambassador Omar Awad Allah.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem signed a 10-year contract with the the Israeli occupation authorities, namely the Jerusalem Municipality, allowing the “Goveroun Bardez” area located in the historical Armenian Quarter to be used as a parking lot for Jews visiting the Western Wall in the Old City in March 2020. This parking lot was officially opened in May of 2021.

Then, in July of 2021, the patriarchate signed a new contract with Dany Rubinstein, an Australian businessman, leasing the “Goveroun Bardez”, which is the entire southwestern section of the Armenian Quarter, for 99 years. Rubinstein’s plan is to construct a hotel on that land and give a small percentage of the profit to the Church within five years’ of the hotel completion.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

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Weather forecast: Partly cloudy, relatively cold conditions, sporadic rainfall

Weather today is partly cloudy and relatively cold in daytime and cold in nighttime with increasing cloudiness and a significant drop in temperature, which becomes unseasonably low, according to the Palestinian Meteorological Department (PMD).

A slight chance of sporadic rainfall is expected in daytime, particularly in the northern districts. Moderate to occasionally active westerly to northwesterly wind blows. Sea waves are low to medium.

Temperature in the capital, Jerusalem, and in Bethlehem is expected to reach a high of 14 C and a low of 8 C, and in Ramallah and Hebron a high of 13 C and a low of 7 C. In Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley, temperature is expected to reach a high of 22 C and a low of 14 C, while it is expected to reach a high of 19 C and a low of 11 C in Gaza and the coastal areas.

Thursday’s temperature is set to further drop, paving the way to partly cloudy to cloudy and cold conditions, especially in the morning and night hours. A slight chance of sporadic rainfall and isolated thunderstorms is expected, particularly in the northern districts.

A low pressure and a cold front are set to affect the region on Friday, causing temperature to further drop and paving the way to partly cloudy to cloudy and cold to very cold conditions. Occasional rain showers, possibly torrential, and thunderstorms are expected, starting in the north and extending to the center.

The partly cloudy to cloudy and cold to very cold conditions are set to prevail on Saturday with scattered rain showers, possibly torrential, and occasional thunderstorms, with the chance of rain tapering off towards the night.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

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PM Shtayyeh says UNESCO’s approval of Palestine’s request on embroidery important, timely

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said today that UNESCO’s approval of the Palestinian request to include the art of embroidery in Palestine on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is an important and timely step.

The Prime Minister said that UNESCO’s approval of the Palestinian request to include “The Art of Embroidery in Palestine: Practices, Skills, Knowledge, and Rituals” helps protect Palestinian identity, heritage and narrative, in the face of occupation attempts to “steal what they do not own.” Shtayyeh thanked UNESCO for approving the Palestinian request during its sixteenth meeting, currently being held in the French capital, Paris.

The art of traditional embroidery is widespread in Palestine.

Originally made and worn in rural areas, the practice is now common in all of Palestine and among members of the diaspora.

Women’s village clothing usually consists of a long dress, trousers, a jacket, a headdress and a veil. Each of these garments is embroidered with a variety of symbols including birds, trees and flowers.

The choice of colors and designs indicates the woman’s regional identity and marital and economic status.

Embroidery is a social and intergenerational practice, as women gather in each other’s homes to practice embroidery and sewing, often with their daughters. Many women embroider as a hobby, and some produce and sell embroidered pieces to supplement their family’s income, either on their own or in collaboration with other women.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency