Papal Visit Rife With Political SignificanceStarting today, Pope Benedict XVI is travelling to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories. For a Pope whose past comments have rankled Muslims and Jews alike, many will be scrutinizing his every word.
Already, his trip has been politicized. Israel pressured the Pope not to meet the mayor of Sakhnin. The Palestinian-Israeli mayor opposed Israel's military assault on Gaza.
Likewise, Palestinians are seeking papal pressure on Israel:
Palestinian leaders this week made public a long-simmering dispute over Israeli plans to demolish part of a Catholic church that was allegedly built illegally. That followed an argument with Israel over a plan to host the pope in an outdoor theater the Palestinians were building alongside Israel's massive West Bank separation barrier.Some of the region's Islamists consider the visit by this Pope provocative.
Israel has mobilized its security apparatus to arrange for the Pope's visit. It will be shutting down areas he visits.
"The thing that worries me most is the speech that the pope will deliver here," said Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, "One word for the Muslims and I’m in trouble; one word for the Jews and I’m in trouble. At the end of the visit the pope goes back to Rome and I stay here with the consequences."
Related Articles:
- Pope in the Holy Land: The issues (BBC News)
- Hope in Hand, Benedict Prepares a Mideast Blitz (New York Times)
- Tepid reception expected for Pope Benedict in Israel (McClatchy)
- Vatican-Israel Relations (Council on Foreign Relations)
- Plans for the pope's visit hit a wall in Bethlehem (Christian Science Monitor)
- Palestinians scrap plan to host pope near barrier (Kansas City Star)
Continued expansion of Israeli settlements and their outposts, along with other measures, have significantly reduced the availability of land for Palestinians restricting their livelihoods and development, according to a new report by the UN humanitarian affairs agency.
Israeli expansionist measures have reduced to 13 per cent the availability of land in Bethlehem for Palestinian use, limited the area's access to resources and restricted its potential for development, said the report by the UN Office for Coordination on Humanitarian Affairs (UCHA).
HEADLINES
Palestinian president to form new government (The Associated Press)
US official: Israel should join NPT (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinians give cool reception to Netanyahu plan (The Associated Press)
UN chief, Israeli president discuss Gaza inquiry report (Xinhua)
UN seeks $11m for Israeli raids (BBC News)
India provides humanitarian relief and budget aid to Palestine (Xinhua)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Aide: Palestinian President Abbas to ask PM to form new government (Gulf News)
Official: Ex-Hamas rep may head PNA govt. (United Press International)
Hamas denies immediate announcement of ceasefire with Israel (Xinhua)
Must-see TV in Palestine (McClatchy-Tribune)
Palestinian unemployment falls to 26 per cent (MEED)
Ending Child Hunger: School Meals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (American Chronicle)
Palestinian lawmaker calls for imposing UN sanctions on Israel (Xinhua)
Palestinians: Settlers cut down our olive trees (Ynetnews)
IDF kills Palestinian near Hebron holy site, air force bombs Gaza ... (Ha'aretz)
Israel
Canadian-born soldier killed during West Bank operation (Ha'aretz)
Breakdown of U.S.-Israel cooperation under Obama worries Jerusalem (Ha'aretz)
Israel police mount Operation White Robe for pope (AFP)
Israel says it won't apologize for Gaza war (The Associated Press)
Ayalon: Israel reviewing Ghajar plan (Jerusalem Post)
'Lieberman sees Europeans as cowards' (Jerusalem Post)
The Neighbors
Jordan King: Delaying Mideast peace dangerous (AFP)
Changes to peace plan for Palestine rejected by Syria (Irish Times)
Despite US Outreach, Syria Affirms Iran Ties (TIME)
New Arab peace plan calls for concessions from Israel, PA (Ha'aretz)
US Foreign Policy
Analysis: Obama charts active role in Mideast (eTaiwan News)
U.S. slams Hezbollah actions in Egypt, urges group to disarm (Ha'aretz)
US envoy on new 'constructive' visit to Syria (AFP)
International Relations and Law
German official: Lieberman comments 'far from encouraging' (Ha'aretz)
Germany’s Steinmeier Calls on Israel to Support Two-State Peace (Bloomberg)
India is our true friend: Palestinian Authority (Times of India)
Iran: Handling of Nuclear Crisis Model for Palestinian 'Resistance' (The Media Line)
United Nations Rebukes Israel for Gaza Attacks (New York Times)
British official: move fast on Mideast (Boston Globe)
Israel continues to violate Lebanon’s sovereignty: Larsen (UN Radio)
Israel-Palestinian talks must address core issues: Blair (Reuters)
Activism
Israel occupation worse than swine flu: protesters (AFP)
Leftists clash with settlers at illegal outpost, 8 arrested (Ha'aretz)
Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights Organisations call for End to
International Donor Complicity in Israeli Violations of International Law (Badil)
Commentary
AIPAC ED fears the growing movement to sanction Israel could fundamentally change US policy towards Israel. He's right. (Mondoweiss)
Human Rights Watch: Israel and Hamas: Cooperate with Investigation (Huffington Post)
The Lede: The West Bank Archipelago (New York Times)
Israel Reacts With Shock, Dismissal at US Calls to Join NPT (AntiWar.com)
Stephen Walt: Should Israel advertise its nukes? (Foreign Policy)
George S. Hishmeh: Israel's human rights abuses out in open (Gulf News)
William Pfaff: Israel's Bad-Faith Negotiating Position (Antiwar.com)
Justin Raimondo: Is Obama Taking on the Israel Lobby? (Antiwar.com)
Medea Benjamin: Code Pink Members Tackled, Berated at AIPAC Israel Conference (Opposing Views)
Analysis: Israel sees no reason to sign 'ineffective' NPT (Jerusalem Post)
Barak Rabid: Lieberman's Italian job (Ha'aretz)
Arieli: Palestinians will recognize Israel as a Jewish state under a final-status deal (Ha'aretz)
Dr. Haidar Eid: Gaza 2009: The Moment of Truth (Palestine Chronicle)
Saleh Al-Naami: Will Abbas do it? (Al-Ahram Weekly)
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