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Pope in the Holy Land

Reaffirmed Support for "Palestinian Homeland"

Spotlight on Middle East

Muslehuddin Ahmad
***The week-long visit by Pope John Paul II to the Holy Land and particularly his visit to the Western Wall, his sermons and open call for reconciliation would certainly ushei in changes in the mental and religious attitude of the people of all faiths in the area. This would, indeed, lead to an environment that would be conducive to peace, religious tolerance and desire to live together side by side — by equitably sharing the available land and resources.***
POPE John Paul II made a week-long (from March 21. 2000) pilgrimage to the Holy Land which he has been looking forward to for over two decades. Before going to Bethlehem where Jesus was born 2000 years ago. the Pope visited Qasr-Ai Yahud, a site on the River Jordan where many Christians believe Jesus was baptised by his cousin John.
While flying over the Palestinian territory the Pope sent a telegram to Chairman Arafat signifying Palestinian sovereignty over the territory. On reaching Bethlehem the Pope kissed a "Bowl of Palestinian earth" — such a gesture is usually made during a state visit. He took both steps, as it seems, to signal Vatican's advance recognition of the de facto Palestinian State. Indeed, he followed it up by Issuing a fervent call for a "Palestinian Homeland". He reiterated Vatican's support-for the "legitimate Palestinian aspirations and said the "torment of the Palestinian people has gone on too long" which must not be ignored any more. The Pope added that "only with a Just and lasting peace — not imposed but secured through negotiations — will legitimate Palestinian aspirations be fulfilled." Thereby he not only insisted on Palestinians' riglit to their homeland but also gave full support to the on going peace negotiations. Chairman Arafat, while greeting the Pope in the Holy Land, said. Inter alia, that "the Palestinian people value highly your just position in support of their cause and their rightful presence on their homeland as a sovereign and Independent people."
The Pope presided over a Mass in Manger Square in Bethlehem where he issued a call for reconciliation of all faiths — Christianity, — Judaism. Islam — and 'enhanced respect for human rights'. After the Mass he visited a Palestinian refugee camp at De-haisheh where about 9.600 Palestinian refugees live. The Pope said the living conditions in the camps are 'barely tolerable" and asked for an urgent and Just solution. He also called for "decisive action" by the international community for improving the living conditions for 3.1 m Palestinian refugees.
Pope John Paul II who. while a seminary student in his/na-' tive land Poland, himself
helped many Jews to escape death during the Holocaust. While in the Holocaust Memorial In Yad Vashem he paid personal homage to the millions of Jews killed by the Nazis and expressed profound grief over the "hatred, acts of persecution and display of anti-Semitism directed against the Jews by the Christians at any time and In any place." He. however, 'stopped short of an outright apology' on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church for what some Jews say Vatican's "silence, inaction and complicity in the Holocaust". The Pope prayed for a 'new relationship between. Christians and Jews'. Prime Minister Barak hailed this as noble act" for reaching out to the Jews. Barak also termed Pope's Journey to the Holy Land as "Journey of healing". He added. "Here, right now, time itself has come to a stand still. This very moment holds within It 2,000 years of history', and their weight is almost too much to bear."
Prime Minister Barak recalled Pope's personal effort to bring about "historic changes in the attitude of the Church to-
wards the Jewish people's and also to "dress the gaping wounds" and the bitterness that stayed for many centuries. Then the Israeli Prime Minister Justified the establishment of Israel by saying that "Israel is the definitive, permanent answer to Auschwitz" and that "since then, no Jew will ever remain helpless or be stripped of the last shred of human dignity". This was a very clear statement from the Israeli Prime Minister giving his reasons and Justification for the establishment of the permanent homeland for the Jews who lost their root and had been wondering around the world. Because of the Holocaust the wandering Jewish people intensely felt the need for a permanent homeland in a place where they lived before among the people of Palestine. But the actions for the reestablishment of Palestine (the
State of Palestine) which had been In existence since time immemorial requires no spe-clal reason or justification The Palestinian people have also been suffering immensely for years and the Pope rightly said that the "the torment of Palestinian people has gone on loo long" and this must not be ignored any longer. It is expected that the Pope's message would reach the people of Israel and help create and environment of reconciliation.
Indeed, in his Masson the shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was attended by nearly 90,000 people, the Pope again called for reconciliation among all faiths — Christianity. Hu-daism. Islam. The Pope also presided over a Mass at the Cathedral at Nazareth — the boyhood home town of Jesus and repeated his call for recon-
ciliation between all faiths. Only about 100 meters away the Palestinian Muslims want to build a mosque which Vatican objected to but Israel gave permission. The mosque is yet to be build but the Muslims pray in the place regularly. The call for the prayer is given over microphone but while the Mass was going on the Muslims turned off the microphone to show respect to the Pope and his prayer In the Mass which was bring attended by many Christians This shows the religious tolerance the Muslims praying there showed to the people of another faith — the Christianity. Such religious tolerance Is a must to maintain religious and communal harmony in a place where the people of all faiths live. Indeed, this event which the Pope himself has witnessed may help remove the objection of the Vatican on the mosque.
The Pope also prayed at the Western (Walling) Wall where Jews pray and asked for God's forgiveness for those who carried out the persecution of the Jews and expressed his commitment for "genuine brotherhood with the people of the
Covenant". The Pontiff appeared visibly' moved and slipped his prayer paper info the stone crevice of the Western Wall The Jewish people must have been touched by his prayer and the very' visit to the Western Wail by the Pope The week-long visit by Pope John Paul fl to the Holy Land and particularly his visit to the Western Wall, his sermons and open call for reconciliation would certainly usher In changes in the mental and religious attitude of the people of all faiths in the area
This would, indeed, lead to an environment that would be conducive to peace, religious tolerance and desire to live together side by side — by equitably sharing the available land and resources. This would also eventually help and indeed promote the Middle East peace process.
Though it was Popes personal "soul-stirring" pilgrimage, it was very timely as intense efforts for peace in the region from all sides have been going on. Indeed, time is running out in terms of present leadership and their commitment for peace. This is why President Clinton, on completion of his visit to the land of Royal Bengal Tigers, decided to meet President Hafez-AI Assad in Geneva. The meeting took place but no deal could be struck.
However, the very meeting would certainly pave the way for further useful and positive thought on this Issue of withdrawal of Israel from Golan Heights. President Clinton would certainly pursue this vigorously as he needs to strike a deal on comprehensive peace in the Middle East before he leaves the White House in a couple of month's time. Both President Assad and Chairman Arafat appear to be in poor health and they must compete the peace deal before they decide to retire and also President Clinton completes his term.
Moreover, for Chairman. Arafat the declaration of the Palestinian State by the end of the year is something he is already committed to President Assad and Chairman Arafat also know that if they cannot ejo the business with Prime Minister Barak now under Clinton administration, things may become still more difficult and indeed uncertain under a new US Administration. Even in Israel the situation may turn into one which even Prime Minister Barak may find difficult to handle. So it is in the best interest of all to show maximum flexibility now in their negotiations for the purpose of achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.