https://freerepublic.com/tag/westbankbarrier/ en-us Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:52:13 GMT Focus Forum 15 https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3012041/posts Palestinians in this Christian village are hoping the new pope can succeed where others have failed—pressing Israel to drop plans to build a stretch of its West Bank separation barrier through their picturesque valley. Since Vatican properties are affected, residents have appealed to the Roman Catholic Church to use more of its significant influence in the Holy Land to reroute the barrier, even as local Catholic leaders hold a special protest Mass in threatened orchards each week. The Vatican has called on Israel not to seize the lands, but local Palestinian Catholics want the new pontiff to lean more heavily... Associated Press https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3012041/posts#comment Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:52:13 GMT