By Daoud Kuttab

President Mahmud Abbas honored six Palestinian Christian leaders bestowing on them the Star of Bethlehem and the Star of Jerusalem medals.

Those honored included the former Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan, former Anglican Bishop Riyad Abu Assal, head of the Presbyterian Church in Palestine Rev. George Habib Awad, founder of the Bethlehem Bible College Bishara Elias Awad, founder of the Dar Al Kalima University Reverend Mitri Raheb and the founder of the Orthodox Four Homes of Mercy in Jerusalem Ms. Katherine George Siksek,

The event was carried out during a Christmas eve (according to the Orthodox Calendar) dinner at the Presidential palace in Bethlehem on Friday, January 6^th.

The event organized by the senior advisor of the president Dr. Majdi Khalidi was addressed by Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh who said that the Christian leaders being honored have transmitted the Palestinian narrative throughout the world.

Bishop Younan responded on behalf of the awardees by saying that Palestinian Christians are part of the Palestinian people and their efforts are a service to our people. “What we do is part of our service e to our people and we will continue our efforts until acquiring our legitimate rights.” Bishop Younan also talked about the importance of the work internationally. “We are happy with our efforts locally and internationally, but we feel that much more is needed in Africa, Asia, and Latin America,” he told President Abbas. “There is strong support in those continents for the Palestinian struggle because people understand the meaning of suffering, occupation, and colonial rule. They also strongly support the rights of people to be free and independent he said.