Posted on 05/26/2014 11:02:21 AM PDT by VitacoreVision
Pope Francis delivered a powerful boost of support to the Palestinians during a Holy Land pilgrimage Sunday, repeatedly backing their statehood aspirations, praying solemnly at Israel’s controversial separation barrier and calling the stalemate in peace efforts “unacceptable.”
Palestinian officials hailed Francis’ decision to refer to the “state of Palestine.” In its official program, the Vatican referred to President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the “state of Palestine,” and his Bethlehem office as the “presidential palace.” He pointedly called Abbas a “man of peace.” ...
“Coming to Bethlehem and flying to Bethlehem from Jordan shows solidarity with the Palestinian people, which is wonderful. We need that,” said Samar Sakkakin, a 52-year-old Palestinian American from Canton, Michigan.
In November 2012, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly recognized a “state of Palestine” in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — lands Israel captured in the 1967 war — as a non-member observer. Israel objects to the Palestinian campaign, saying it is an attempt to bypass negotiations.
“I am with you,” he told a group of Palestinian children at a stop in Bethlehem’s Deheishe refugee camp. He also held a private lunch with five Palestinian families who say they have been harmed by Israeli policies. ...
Jubilant Palestinians cheered Francis as he arrived in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, shouting “Viva al-Baba!” or “Long live the pope!” Giant Palestinian flags in red, white, green and black and the Vatican’s yellow-and-white flags decorated the square, which is home to the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where many Christians believe Jesus was born. ...
RE: So, when the Pope used the word peace, was he speaking to Palestinians or the West… he was speaking to Palestinians.
Let’s see if I get this right -— the Palestinians have their own understanding of the word “Peace” ( which CAN include terrorism ), and the west has its own understanding of the word “Peace” which REPUDIATES terrorism...
And the Pope chooses to use the Palestinian understanding of peace ( which CAN include terrorism )?
To what end?
It is not God’s Will that there be a (State of Palestine).
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