Pope Arrives in Israel, Calls for Two State Solution

In an article for Terrasanta today, I write about Pope Benedict XVI's call for a two state solution to help build a climate of greater trust. His comments are interesting, not because this is anything new (the Holy See has long been known to support a two state solution), but because the Holy Father, straight after landing in Israel, has immediately brought in a political theme - essentially the first of the pilgrimage. The current, newly elected Israeli government is understood to be opposed to a two state solution or, at the very least, cool about the idea.

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UPDATE 17/5/09 - Netanyahu is now more favourable to a Two State Solution. Could it have anything to do with the Pope's repeated appeal, made just ahead of Netenyahu's visit to the US? Certainly the Pope showed great political skill in keeping the Two State proposal front and centre during his time in Israel.