Even the Pope Has Begun Calling for a Palestinian State

Pope Benedict XVI traveled to the Middle East as "a pilgrim of peace," though he ended up stirring up a bit of Israeli angst when he agreed that there should be a Palestinian state and when his remembrance of holocaust victims was not worded to the liking of several Jewish leaders. After visiting Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, the pope offered deep condolences for the victims of the holocaust, but Jewish leaders were disappointed that Germany and the Nazis were not specifically mentioned by the German pontiff. Meanwhile, Sheik Tamimi had spurred on Muslims to unite with Christians and for Pope Benedict to "pressure the Israeli government to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people." He went on to note that Jerusalem was "the eternal political, national and spiritual capital of Palestine."

The Vatican was quick to condemn the remarks of Tamimi, whose arguments with Yisrael Meir Lau derailed an interfaith meeting in 2000 that involved then-Pope John Paul II. Said Rev. David Neuhaus, an organizer of the pope’s trip, "It was discussed very clearly that neither the sheik nor the rabbi would give any kind of discourse. Sheik Tamimi simply hijacked the microphone."

Speaking at Yad Vashem, in the Hall of Remembrance, Benedict noted that he was there to honor "the memory of the millions of Jews killed in the horrific tragedy of the Shoah. They lost their lives, but they will never lose their names. These are indelibly etched in the hearts of their loved ones, their surviving prisoners, and all those determined never to allow such an atrocity to disgrace mankind again." Apparently, Benedict’s words didn’t please everyone, who prefer their holocaust talk to hit on certain key points. Said Rabbi Lau, a holocaust survivor, "There is a clear difference between ‘killed’ and ‘murdered.’ There is a difference between saying millions in the holocaust and saying six million. The word six was not said." Very important note to Pope: make sure to say "six million" next time (but don’t mention nuclear weapons).