NNA - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday evening granted the Lebanese singer Ragheb Alameh the Palestinian citizenship and handed him a diplomatic passport, in the presence of Palestine's Ambassador, Ashraf Dabbour, and the National News Agency Director, Mrs. Laure Sleiman Saab.


After receiving the Palestinian citizenship and the diplomatic passport, Alameh expressed joy for this honor, stressing the Palestinian people's right to return to their country.



"This nationality is a source of pride for me to carry to the whole world, because the Palestinian cause is just and the people are oppressed and tormented," Alameh said during the ceremony held at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut.



He called on the Palestinian people to unify their ranks and to stay aloof from plots and conspiracies, with the support of the Palestinian President and all those who are loyal to the Palestinian cause.



Alameh finally expressed hope to visit Palestine soon and to meet with the Palestinian people, saying the Lebanese concerned authorities will work on facilitating that visit "because there are some related security measures that need to be adopted."



=========D.K.