POPE CALLS FOR "FORGIVENESS, NOT REVENGE" IN

UNCLAS VATICAN 000564 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN); NEA/IAI E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM WE IS VT SUBJECT: POPE CALLS FOR "FORGIVENESS, NOT REVENGE" IN MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN PM 1.PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER AHMED QUREIA MET BRIEFLY WITH POPE JOHN PAUL II FEBRUARY 12 DURING HIS TRIP TO EUROPE TO RALLY OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY BARRIER. THE POPE TOLD QUREIA THAT THE HOLY LAND NEEDED "FORGIVENESS NOT REVENGE, BRIDGES NOT WALLS," REPEATING THE THEME OF A MESSAGE HE GAVE DURING ISRAELI FM SHALOM'S VISIT LAST DECEMBER 11 WHEN HE CALLED FOR "CONCRETE ACTS OF RECONCILIATION ON BOTH SIDES." ADDRESSING QUREIA'S DELEGATION, POPE JOHN PAUL SAID THAT WHILE THERE ARE SOME SIGNS OF HOPE, "THE SAD SITUATION IN THE HOLY LAND IS A CAUSE OF SUFFERING FOR ALL." THE PONTIFF CALLED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HELP TO CONVINCE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TO TAKE UP THE "PATH OF DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION." 2.THE POPE'S ADMONITION ABOUT BUILDING "BRIDGES NOT WALLS" ECHOES REMARKS HE MADE LAST NOVEMBER WHEN HE WAS EVEN MORE EXPLICIT IN HIS CRITICISM OF ISRAELI'S SECURITY BARRIER. "THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WALL BETWEEN THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS SEEN BY MANY AS A NEW OBSTACLE ON THE ROAD TO PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE," HE SAID AT THE TIME. DURING QUERIA'S VISIT, THE POPE VOICED HIS DESIRE "THAT ALL LEADERS OF THE REGION FOLLOW, WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THE PATH OF DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION WHICH LEADS TO LASTING PEACE." HE ALSO TOLD QUERIA THAT "NO ONE MUST YIELD TO THE TEMPTATION OF DISCOURAGEMENT, LET ALONE TO HATRED OR RETALIATION." 3.COMMENT: THE HOLY SEE, AND POPE JOHN PAUL II IN PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND OUTSPOKEN IN ITS OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY BARRIER, AS WELL AS IN ITS CONDEMNATION OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL. AS S REFLECTED IN THE HOLY SEE'S FOCUS ON THE ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IN THE RECENT MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT, THE HOLY SEE IS INCREASINGLY CONCERNED BOUT WHAT IT TERMS "THE SAD SITUATION IN THE HOLY LAND," WHICH IT NOTES IS "A SOURCE OF SUFFERING FOR ALL." WE CAN EXPECT THE POPE TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE SECURITY BARRIER AND IN FAVOR OF DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION.. NICHOLSON NNNN 2004VATICA00564 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED