Vatican City – Pope Benedict told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday the Vatican hoped the recent de facto recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations would spur the international community to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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Abbas, who is on a tour of Europe to thank countries that supported the November 29 resolution by the U.N. General Assembly recognizing Palestine, held private talks with the pope for about 25 minutes in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
“It is hoped that (the resolution) will encourage the commitment of the international community to finding a fair and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which may be reached only by resuming negotiations between the parties, in good faith and according due respect to the rights of both,” a Vatican statement said.
The 193-nation General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s observer status at the United Nations from “entity” to “non-member state,” the same status as the Vatican.
The Vatican welcomed the resolution, which amounted to an implicit recognition of a Palestinian state.
But at the time the Holy See also renewed its call for an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem, something which Israel rejects.
Israel captured East Jerusalem – along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip – in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. The Jewish state now regards Jerusalem as its “united and eternal” capital.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a state they seek in the West Bank and Gaza and agree with the Vatican that the city needs international guarantees.
Israel has always maintained that it already guarantees Jerusalem’s special nature as sacred to the three great monotheistic religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but is steadily expanding settlement in the larger West Bank.
The Vatican said the pope and Abbas also discussed the “situation in the region, troubled by numerous conflicts,” which was seen as a clear reference to the civil war in Syria.
Abbas was also meeting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Pier Luigi Bersani, the head of the Democratic Party, which is widely expected to win national elections early next year.
Italy’s center-left has traditionally supported Palestinians while the center-right has been closer to Israel.
Everyone hates jews. Deep inside everyone hates us
They want the international community to solve the “middle east problem”? Heaven help us!
The German born Pope who was in the “Hitler Jugend” should have more sensitivity. The Church (whom he represents) has persecuted Jews for over 1700 years and was responsible for countless Progroms and murders of innocent Jews should also be more sensitive.
We Jews on the other hand should become more radical and stop this nonsense by hitting back hard at Abbas and telling the World “We will NOT tolerate this any more” If we go down the entire world goes down with us.
The time has come where we should force the Western world to stop this stupid nonsence of thinking that only if Israel would vanish there would be world peace.
Look and see what is going on in Lybia Somalia Egypt and in Syria; and understand this will not stop! It is Islam that is creating this turmoil and unless the United States takes the leadership it is required to stop this menace the end will be a nucelar third final war as Israel will NOT dissapear.
When will Isareli leaders have the courage to call it as it is?
Another example of the Catholic Church ignoring the facts, i.e. Abbas’ statements supporting armed struggle and his refusal to negotiatye without preconditions. The Popes’ statements only feed into Palestinian delusions and make them think they will be able to destro israel. Hashem has other plans.
He is still the same Soney Yosrael as he always was and as all his predecessors always were.
Ashrei haish Asher lo halach Ba’atzat reshaim
This naarisha pope should tell the falestinians the truth and not mislead them.
He should tell them point blank, that they aren’t in a position to demand anything from israel and anything and everthing Israel gives them, territory and otherwise they should feel lucky to receive and appreciate it.
He should further tell them, since the state of Jordan already is about 75% falestinian a confederation with them would also make alot of sense, since why do they deserve two falestinian states.
Instead of the pope and the rest of the world telling them the truths, everyone spoils them like a little baby and than they expect the world to deliver them the entire state of Israel on a silver tray. Tell them the truths, not what they want to hear, or shut up!
Are they sending us anything back from Rome or is it all gone????????
So the pope too, was against Oslo, and wanted Israel to be wiped off the map instead, like the Palestinians want.
Anyone who feels good about the UN vote, does. Oslo gives everything to the Islamic world, except for wiping Israel off the map. (this is total fact of course! it’s not just another poster on VIN).