Pope Benedict Accomplishes the Impossible: Pleases Israels And Palestinians

May 16th, 2009 By: Michael van der Galien | Tags: , , ,
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pope benedictPope Benedict XVI accomplished the impossible yesterday: his farewell speech pleased both Israelis and Palestinians. 

Pope Benedict XVI ended a politically charged visit to Israel and the West Bank on Friday with new condemnations of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial and his strongest appeal yet for the creation of a Palestinian state.

Benedict’s farewell remarks from the tarmac at Tel Aviv’s airport pleased both Israelis and Palestinians, many of whom had initially viewed him with skepticism. Some said later they felt vindication from portions of his carefully worded statements and a measure of respect for his moral authority.

Not everybody was pleased, however:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointedly told the pope that he resists the idea of an independent Palestine, even though most Western leaders support it.

And some young Palestinians on hand for a papal Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem this week scoffed at the 82-year-old Roman Catholic leader’s warning to “resist any temptation . . . to resort to acts of violence and terrorism.”


In the end, the pope is right, of course. An independent Palestinian state has to be created. Some day. The only questions are when and whether Palestinians will actually be able to deal with the responsibilities that come with having your own official state.

Netanyahu and others will have to accept this. If they continue to opt against it, peace will never come.

On the other hand, Palestinians will have to stop carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets, and they will have to learn to treat their neighbor with respect. They may not like it that Israel exists, but they will have to accept it. 

Will both sides play along? It depends. If radicals set the agenda, they will not. If moderates and pragmatists do, however, there is a chance of peace somewhere in the future.

I am not hopeful, however. I believe Israelis are willing to opt for peace, but that Palestinians or at least there leaders are not.

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