POPE BENEDICT XVI has told Palestinians he understood their suffering and offered his strongest and most symbolic public backing yet for an independent Palestinian state. During his visit yesterday to Bethlehem, the focus was on Israel’s West Bank security wall and the reaffirmation of the Vatican’s support for Palestinian statehood.
At the city’s Aida camp, home to some 5,000 refugees, the pope stopped at a UN-run school flying Palestinian and Vatican flags, situated just in front of the imposing grey wall which cuts off Bethlehem from Jerusalem, a few miles to the south.
“Towering over us, as we gather here this afternoon, is a stark reminder of the stalemate that relations between Israelis and Palestinians seem to have reached: the wall,” the pope told camp residents gathered at the school. “How we earnestly pray for an end to the hostilities that have caused this wall to be built . . .
“I have seen . . . overshadowing much of Bethlehem, the wall that intrudes into your territories, separating neighbours and dividing families,” the pope said before leaving the town where Jesus was born. “Although walls can be easily built, we all know that they do not last forever. The can be taken down.”
Stressing the need first to remove “the walls that we build around our hearts” and bring conflict to an end, he said: “My earnest wish for you, the people of Palestine, is that this will happen soon, and that you will at last be able to enjoy the peace, freedom and stability that have eluded you for so long.”
Israel justifies the barrier, which runs for hundreds of miles, as a necessary security measure, highlighting the sharp decline in infiltrations by West Bank militants in areas where construction was completed.
A large sign at the Aida school read “it is time to enable Palestinian refugees to exercise their fundamental right of return”. Children of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails presented gifts to the pope.
Christian and Muslim residents stood together and shouted “Long Live the pope, Long Live Palestine” as the pope’s black limousine made its way along Bethlehem’s ancient narrow streets.
Earlier, after being welcomed to the city by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the pope repeated comments he made shortly after landing in Israel on Monday in support of an independent Palestinian state. “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.
Pope Benedict, in his most political remarks of his Holy Land pilgrimage, said he was aware of Palestinian suffering, which he said, has been going on for dozens of years. He expressed the hope that the Palestinians will enjoy greater freedom of movement and be able to visit the holy sites. But he urged Palestinians not to resort to violence and terrorism to achieve their national aspirations, acknowledging Israeli security concerns.
After welcoming the pontiff, Mr Abbas denounced what he termed “Israel’s apartheid wall” as part of an effort to drive Palestinian Christians and Muslims from the Holy Land.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the papal visit to the West Bank amounted to “a call to end injustice and end occupation”. Celebrating Mass with worshippers in Manger Square in front of the Church of Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, the pope was cheered when he delivered a special message for the Gaza Strip Christians who were allowed by Israel to travel to Bethlehem for the service.
“In a special way my heart goes out the pilgrims from war-torn Gaza. I ask you to bring back to your families and your communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the hardship and the suffering that you have to endure,” the pope said.
“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.”
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said an estimated 10,000 people attended the mass, including 100 Christians from Gaza.