Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday morning visited the Church of the Nativity in PA-occupied Bet Lechem and held a mass. Later in the day, he is traveling to Ramallah for a meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
 
Reports from the PA indicate residents feel the pontiff is showing favoritism towards Israel, citing the incident in which the pontiff walked out of the eastern Jerusalem event during which Sheikh Taysir al-Taminmi, who heads the PA (Palestinian Authority) Sharia Court, labeled Israel a “murderer of women and children”.
 
PA officials are still hopeful the pope will conduct a separation fence tour as planned, which they feel will make a strong statement opposing the conditions of residents under “Israeli occupation”. Reports from PA sources state residents are angered and disappointed that the pope has failed to mention the suffering and harsh realities of life in the PA due to Israeli policy.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)