Pope sides with Abbas over Israel, pushes for Palestinian state

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited the Vatican on Thursday where he had a private audience with Pope Francis.

A Vatican press release described the talks as “cordial” and called for renewed peace talks towards a two-state solution.

“With regard to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, it was stressed that it is absolutely necessary to reactivate direct dialogue in order to achieve a two-state solution, also with the help of more vigorous effort on the part of the international community,” the statement said.

“Lastly, it was reiterated that Jerusalem must be recognised by all as a place of encounter and not of conflict, and that its status must preserve its identity and universal value as a Holy City for all three Abrahamic religions, also through a special internationally guaranteed status,” it added.

According to the official PA-run Wafa News, Abbas “briefed” the pope on what what was described as Israeli efforts to seize Palestinian and church property “including through fraudulent sales, particularly in the Old City of Jerusalem.” Wafa did not elaborate further.

The Vatican recognized “The State of Palestine” in 2013. Later that year, Abbas made waves during a Christmas message when he insisted that Jesus was a Palestinian. While Israel criticized Abbas’ remarks, church officials were strangely silent.

Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the Palestinian Christian community under PA jurisdiction has dwindled. Palestinian Christians complain of Muslim land theft, harassment of Christian women, Christian businesses being forced to pay protection money and discriminatory taxes, and frequent robberies and vandalization of churches. Christians also face kidnapping and forced conversions. They also accuse the PA justice system of providing no legal recourse.

Western media’s indifference to the plight of Palestinian Christians makes life a silent struggle.

The situation has led to a Christian exodus from the Holy Land, particularly in the town of Bethlehem. Before the PA was established in 1994, Christians were the majority of the population. Today, they number less than 20 percent.

The PA chief’s itinerary in Rome also included a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi.