Minister deputises for King in Bethlehem Christmas mass

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez on Thursday attended the midnight mass in Bethlehem, which was held as part of the Christmas celebrations. 

Fayez told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that His Majesty and the Jordanian people are keen to share the celebrations in this occasion with the Christians of the world, especially in Palestine.

He also said that he conveyed greetings from King Abdullah and the Jordanian people to Christian Palestinians, expressing wishes for security and peace to spread in the holy land.

Prior to his participation in the mass, Fayez on Thursday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and discussed the "brotherly and historic" relations which link the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples, Petra reported.

In the presence of Khalid Shawabkeh, head of the Jordanian mission in Ramallah, the minister conveyed the King's greetings to Abbas, voicing the Kingdom's support to the Palestinian people and their just cause.