Nicolas Ghobar, from the parish of the Church of the Annunciation in Beit Jala, which belongs to the Christian community of Bethlehem, and Hala Yacoub, a Palestinian Christian journalist and human rights defender from the West Bank, will be at 9:15 p.m. on the 11th of this month at 9:15 p.m. in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Braga to talk about the current situation in the West Bank.

This initiative is promoted by the Academic Centre of Braga, the Collective for the Liberation of Palestine, the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network-Portugal and the Portuguese Catholic University - Regional Centre of Braga.

Through writing and activism, Hala Yacoub sheds light on the daily reality of life in that occupied territory and the unshakeable faith of Palestinian Christians. Her work brings communities together, inviting Christians from around the world to unite in solidarity with Palestine through a common commitment to justice, dignity and peace.

Nicolas Ghobar is in Portugal to promote handcrafted olive wood objects to help support many of the Christian families and religious communities that remain in this Palestinian enclave located in the West Bank, south of Jerusalem.

In the heart of Bethlehem, where more than two thousand years ago the Star that announced the birth of the Saviour shone, 37 Christian families transform faith into art as a means of livelihood. With dedicated hands and hearts full of hope, these families create unique pieces from olive wood.

The proceeds from the sale of these items go towards supporting and sustaining the small Christian community in Bethlehem, which today represents only 1% of the local population. These items are available until Christmas at the parish of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires in Lisbon. A page/profile called ‘Estrela de Belém Artesanato’ is available on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, showcasing the items and the purposes for which the proceeds from the sale will be used.