Israel, Palestine point-scoring hope from pope pilgrimage

[webfact]

Israel, Palestine point-scoring hope from pope pilgrimage

JERUSALEM - When Pope Francis arrives in the Holy Land he will step into a political powder keg, with Israelis and Palestinians seeking to chalk up political points from his visit.

For Israel, increasingly isolated in the world over its relentless settlement juggernaut, it will be a chance to bask in the reflected glow of the pope's aura of tolerance.

"The very fact of the visit is a success," an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity.

"Hopefully, it will encourage pilgrims to visit here."

In fact, the pope's "pilgrimage of prayer", which begins in Jordan on Saturday, will leave a relatively faint footprint in Israel.

His visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories will kick off on Sunday in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Full story: http://www.enca.com/israel-palestine-point-scoring-hope-pope-pilgimage

-- eNCA 2014-05-19

[coma]

The Vatican pouring fuel on to a fire.

[bina]

Amen

Bina

Israel

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Scott]

Off-topic, inflammatory posts and replies deleted. Stay on topic.

[Bwanatickey]

So who's side is God on ?

[Jay Sata]

The current israeli Prime Minister underscores his stance via this bizarre conversation in front of the worlds press.

(Reuters) - Pope Francis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded words on Monday over the language spoken by Jesus two millennia ago.

"Jesus was here, in this land. He spoke Hebrew," Netanyahu told Francis, at a public meeting in Jerusalem in which the Israeli leader cited a strong connection between Judaism and Christianity.

"Aramaic," the pope interjected.

"He spoke Aramaic, but he knew Hebrew," Netanyahu shot back.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/26/uk-pope-holyland-jesus-idUKKBN0E618X20140526

Edited May 28, 2014 by Jay Sata

[Bwanatickey]

Both shot away, who in their right mind would follow either?

[Ulysses G.]

The current israeli Prime Minister underscores his stance via this bizarre conversation in front of the worlds press.

(Reuters) - Pope Francis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded words on Monday over the language spoken by Jesus two millennia ago.

"Jesus was here, in this land. He spoke Hebrew," Netanyahu told Francis, at a public meeting in Jerusalem in which the Israeli leader cited a strong connection between Judaism and Christianity.

"Aramaic," the pope interjected.

"He spoke Aramaic, but he knew Hebrew," Netanyahu shot back.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/26/uk-pope-holyland-jesus-idUKKBN0E618X20140526

Actually, Netananyahu is probably right. Jesus was likely to have spoken Greek as well. All three languages were common in the area.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27587230

[Morch]

The current israeli Prime Minister underscores his stance via this bizarre conversation in front of the worlds press.

(Reuters) - Pope Francis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded words on Monday over the language spoken by Jesus two millennia ago.

"Jesus was here, in this land. He spoke Hebrew," Netanyahu told Francis, at a public meeting in Jerusalem in which the Israeli leader cited a strong connection between Judaism and Christianity.

"Aramaic," the pope interjected.

"He spoke Aramaic, but he knew Hebrew," Netanyahu shot back.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/26/uk-pope-holyland-jesus-idUKKBN0E618X20140526

Yes, this is quite typical of Netanyahu, instead of a smile and nod he gets into debate over nothing.

Doesn't even matter if he's right or not (the Reuters article says they both are, btw), just plain unnecessary.

This silliness doesn't skip the Palestinian side as well, though - the Pope was treated to an exhibition of edited classical

paintings depicting scenes from Jesus life in conjecture to the Palestinian struggle:

Bethlehem walls transformed in the presence of the Holy See

<snip>

In Bethlehem’s historic Manger Square, however, the Pope will be greeted by a dramatically different scene: huge renderings of classical European paintings of Biblical suffering, juxtaposed against contemporary photographs of Palestinian life.

The startling images are part of a project entitled "In the presence of the Holy See" by the Palestinian Museum to welcome the Pope in an altogether unique way by examining the Palestinian experience in relationship to one of the land's most famous martyrs, Jesus Christ.

The banners include scenes of the lamentation of Christ beside a woman sifting through possessions after an Israeli attack on Jenin refugee camp and a man carrying away a body that is simultaneously a Palestinian killed by Israeli fire and the martyred Christ, among others.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=699704

Pics can be views on the Palestinian Museum's website: http://www.palmuseum.org/exhibitions-news/news/in-the-presence-of-the-holy-see-project

While I do no think that the current Pope is easily offended, it may be safe to assume that some Christians would not be too

happy with the political association. On the other hand, not very probable that there would be any Christian backlash at

Muslims over this use of Christian imagery, it is not a cartoon in a newspaper, after all .