On Sunday, December 28, 2024, the An-Najah Center for Religious Studies (ANCERS), represented by its Chairman, Prof. Jamal Zaid Al-Kilani, along with a delegation of esteemed faculty members, participated in a seminar titled "The Role of Religions in Environmental Protection." The event was held in collaboration with the Environmental Education Center (EEC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency Bishop Sani Azar.

The seminar commenced with an address delivered by Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the Chief Justice of Palestine. His speech focused on the pressing challenges confronting Palestine's environment, particularly the devastation caused by the occupation, which has led to significant environmental degradation and destruction.

The seminar was co-moderated by Prof. Jamal Zaid Al-Kilani, Dean of the Faculty of Shari’ah at An-Najah National University, and Dr. Munther Isaac, Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible College. Members of the academic staff, along with an engaged audience representing various ministries and centers, actively contributed through insightful comments and participatory discussions.

All comments were centered on the role of religion and education in protecting the environment and fostering care for all living creatures from both Islamic and Christian perspectives. Furthermore, the discussion addressed the underlying reasons for the current shortcomings in implementing these religious and educational principles. These principles, conveyed through various stages—in schools, universities, mosques, and churches—are designed to cultivate a lifestyle rooted in environmental stewardship and ethical responsibility.

The seminar concluded with several recommendations, the most significant of which is enhancing the effectiveness of the role played by formal educational and religious institutions in protecting the environment.