Bethlehem - Ma'an - The new Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani Al-Hayek, took over the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, succeeding Minister Rula Maayah, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in the previous Palestinian government. The reception and handover ceremony took place in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Saleh Tawafsha, a number of general directors, and a group of the ministry's employees. The ceremony took place at the ministry's headquarters in the city of Bethlehem. At the beginning, Minister Maaya welcomed the new Minister, Hani Al-Hayek, stressing the importance of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in managing the tourism and tangible cultural heritage sectors in Palestine and how to convey the true image of the hospitable Palestinian people to the whole world, as Palestine possesses many unique tourist and archaeological components at the general level, such as Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Mubarak, the Church of the Resurrection, the Church o f the Nativity, and the Noble Ibrahimi Mosque. The new Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani Al-Hayek, stressed the importance of what was accomplished at the level of the tourism and cultural heritage sectors in Palestine during the era of Minister Maaya, stressing the continuation of the approach of achieving achievements for the benefit of Palestine and its people, noting that the path is full of challenges and difficulties imposed by the political reality and occupation of Palestine. Al-Hayek stressed the importance of continuing to convey the true image of Palestine to various countries around the world, which will contribute to affirming that the people of Palestine are a people who deserve life and deserve an independent Palestinian state, in addition to contributing to providing Palestine with new tourist groups that work to develop the number of tourists coming to Palestine from various countries of the world. Hayek said: The new Palestinian government is the government of Mr. President and wi ll work under his directives and the directives of Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, Prime Minister, in accordance with the letter of assignment of tasks and responsibilities, and we will work with all our efforts to achieve these tasks and responsibilities. The ceremony concluded with Minister Maaya receiving a symbolic gift from the Ministry's employees as an expression of their thanks for all the work and effort she has provided over the past years. Source: Maan News Agency