JERUSALEM (CNS): European and North American bishops meeting in the Holy Land from January 12-15, criticised Israel over the construction of a security wall and condemned the Palestinian terrorism that Israel cites as the reason for the wall.
A tense moment occurred on January 14 when Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem exchanged sharp words with Israeli President Moshe Katzav during a meeting with the bishops’ delegation.
President Katzav told the delegation that Israel would not go ahead with the peace process unless Palestinian terrorism stopped, reported the daily Ha’aretz newspaper.
When Patriarch Sabbah responded that the Israeli occupation was what was causing Palestinian-led terrorism, the Israeli President accused the patriarch of legitimising terror.
“As a spiritual leader you must condemn terror of any kind,” Ha’aretz quoted President Katzav as saying.
President Katzav said he understood the patriarch’s support for the Palestinian people, but called on the patriarch to condemn terrorism. Patriarch Sabbah, according to the report, replied that he objects to “bloodshed of any kind”.
In Rome, Pope John Paul II met with the chief rabbis of Israel on January 16, telling them that religious leaders must do everything in their power to promote dialogue and peace.
It was the first ever visit of Israel’s chief rabbis to the Vatican.
