Pope Benedict XVI backs creation of Palestinian homeland alongside Israel
On the third day of his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, he crossed into the West Bank to visit Bethlehem.
While acknowledging the suffering of Palestinian people following the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Pope nevertheless urged moderation, telling Palestinians they should not use violence and extremism.
In his most sensitive speech yet of his tour of the Holy Land, the Pope sent a message of solidarity with moderate Palestinians such as Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader and president of the Palestinian Authority, who welcomed him to Bethlehem.
"The Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbours, within internationally recognised borders,'' the Pope said.
He placed the Vatican firmly in line with the United Nations and European Union in favouring the 'two state solution'' for the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, envisaging two countries.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
While acknowledging the suffering of Palestinian people following the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Pope nevertheless urged moderation, telling Palestinians they should not use violence and extremism.
In his most sensitive speech yet of his tour of the Holy Land, the Pope sent a message of solidarity with moderate Palestinians such as Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader and president of the Palestinian Authority, who welcomed him to Bethlehem.
"The Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbours, within internationally recognised borders,'' the Pope said.
He placed the Vatican firmly in line with the United Nations and European Union in favouring the 'two state solution'' for the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, envisaging two countries.