Pope in Israel calls for Palestinian homeland

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Pope Benedict XVI called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian homeland immediately after he arrived in Israel Monday, a stance that could put him at odds with his hosts on a trip aimed at improving ties between the Vatican and Jews.

The pope also took on the delicate issue of the Holocaust, pledging to "honor the memory" of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Nazi genocide at the start of his five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Benedict touched down in Israel on the second leg of a weeklong pilgrimage to the Holy Land, after spending three days in neighboring Jordan. He is using the tour to reach out to both Muslims and Jews.

In his first public comments upon arriving, Benedict urged Israelis and Palestinians to "explore every possible avenue" to resolve their differences.

"The hopes of countless men, women and children for a more secure and stable future depend on the outcome of negotiations for peace," he told a welcoming ceremony at Israel's international airport. "In union with people of goodwill everywhere, I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties, so that both peoples may live in peace in a homeland of their own within secure and internationally recognized borders."

While Benedict has spoken in favor of a Palestinian homeland in the past, the timing and location of his comments were noteworthy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the audience, has pointedly refused to endorse the two-state solution since his election. But he is expected to come under pressure to do so when he travels to Washington next week. Netanyahu did not speak at the ceremony, then flew to Egypt for talks on regional issues with President Hosni Mubarak."

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[bemildred]

1. "Homeland"?

That seems like an unfortunate choice of words to me.

[excess_3]

7. what word did the pope use?

what language, btw?

Italian
German
Latin
Hebrew
something else?

[bemildred]

8. The quote is in English. Do you have some reason to think he spoke something else? nt

[excess_3]

9. why would the pope be speaking in English? n/t

[bemildred]

11. Why are you speaking in English? nt

[LeftishBrit]

12. The same reason that his mediaeval predecessors spoke in Latin...

it's a language that a large number of people understand, compared with many other languages.

[LeftishBrit]

2. I agree with the need for a Palestinian state...

but I doubt that the Pope, especially this particular Pope, can have much influence in the region.

[IndianaGreen]

10. The former Hitler Youth and pal of Holocaust deniers has no credibility

His Papacy is a throwback to the Dark Ages.

[IndianaGreen]

3. The former Hitler Youth and forgiver of Holocaust deniers sure has lotsa credibility

The all-male Vatican is a bigoted entity that promotes homophobia and misogyny.

[Vegasaurus]

5. Yes, this Pope, the former Hitler Youth

is supposedly a non-biased voice on the I/P conflict?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

6. I might be prepared to belive that he dislikes Jews and Muslims equally...

N.T.

[Scurrilous]

4. Pope Benedict XVI Calls for Palestinian Homeland

<snip>

"Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday called for greater international pressure towards establishment of a Palestinian state and urged an end to Israel's embargo of the Gaza Strip.

In a speech alongside Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and a later Mass in Manger Square, Benedict appealed for progress on several fronts, including quick reconstruction of recent war damage in Gaza, an easing of Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement, cessation of Palestinian attacks on Israelis and movement towards "a sovereign Palestinian homeland."

"I call on the international community to bring its influence to bear in favor of a solution," Benedict said, under bright blue skies and with gold and white Vatican flags fluttering overhead. "I pray too that, with the assistance of the international community, reconstruction work can proceed swiftly wherever homes, schools or hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, especially during the recent fighting in Gaza."

In his homily during a Mass at Manger Square, near what traditionally is regarded as the site of Jesus' birth, the pontiff told a small contingent of Gazan Catholics in the crowd: "Please be assured of my solidarity with you in the immense work of rebuilding which now lies ahead, and my prayers that the embargo will soon be lifted."

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