- May 11, 2009 • 12:41 pm PDT
- + responses
Immediately upon arriving he calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian homeland.. which may have been a little awkward for his hosts?

Before arriving in Israel he spent 3 days in Jordan - he is using this tour to reach out to both Muslims and Jews.
"The hopes of countless men, women and children for a more secure
and stable future depend on the outcome of negotiations for peace," he
told a welcoming ceremony at Israel's international airport. "In union
with people of goodwill everywhere, I plead with all those responsible
to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of
the outstanding difficulties, so that both peoples may live in peace in
a homeland of their own within secure and internationally recognized
borders."
While Benedict has spoken in favor of a Palestinian
homeland in the past, the timing and location of his comments were
noteworthy.
The Pope also took on addressing the Holocaust .. rest of the story here.

























