This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8046746.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
WWII row dogs Pope in Jerusalem WWII row dogs Pope in Jerusalem
(about 1 hour later)
A row has flared over Pope Benedict XVI's membership as a teenager of the Hitler Youth, as he paid a historic visit to Jerusalem's holy sites.A row has flared over Pope Benedict XVI's membership as a teenager of the Hitler Youth, as he paid a historic visit to Jerusalem's holy sites.
A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff had "never, never, never" belonged - contradicting the Pope's own admission.A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff had "never, never, never" belonged - contradicting the Pope's own admission.
The comments came as he visited the Dome of the Rock - the first pontiff to do so - and then the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest places.The comments came as he visited the Dome of the Rock - the first pontiff to do so - and then the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest places.
Pope Benedict then said Mass for thousands in the Josaphat valley.Pope Benedict then said Mass for thousands in the Josaphat valley.
It is the second day of his five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.It is the second day of his five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said: "The Pope was never in the Hitler Youth, never, never, never."Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said: "The Pope was never in the Hitler Youth, never, never, never."
Katya Adler, BBC News, Jerusalem The Mass in the picturesque and historically charged Josaphat Valley is not well attended.Katya Adler, BBC News, Jerusalem The Mass in the picturesque and historically charged Josaphat Valley is not well attended.
The 5,000 tickets for the Mass were sold out. Olive trees were temporarily removed to make room for the anticipated crowds of enthusiastic pilgrims. Yet few have actually turned up.The 5,000 tickets for the Mass were sold out. Olive trees were temporarily removed to make room for the anticipated crowds of enthusiastic pilgrims. Yet few have actually turned up.
The adoration that followed Pope Benedict's predecessor during his visit to the Holy Land nine years ago seem to be conspicuously absent.The adoration that followed Pope Benedict's predecessor during his visit to the Holy Land nine years ago seem to be conspicuously absent.
The Middle East is also a sadder and darker place.The Middle East is also a sadder and darker place.
John Paul came here in March of the millennium year - before the 11 September attacks, before the US-led invasion of Iraq, before the second Palestinian uprising and Israel's tougher controls on Palestinians.John Paul came here in March of the millennium year - before the 11 September attacks, before the US-led invasion of Iraq, before the second Palestinian uprising and Israel's tougher controls on Palestinians.
Ahead of Pope Benedict's visit few Christians said they believed he could or would improve their lives much. Their absence here today, if for that reason, speaks volumes.Ahead of Pope Benedict's visit few Christians said they believed he could or would improve their lives much. Their absence here today, if for that reason, speaks volumes.
But his remark appeared to contradict the Pope's own words in his 1997 memoirs, Salt of the Earth.But his remark appeared to contradict the Pope's own words in his 1997 memoirs, Salt of the Earth.
"As a seminarian, I was registered in the HY [Hitler Youth]," he said then. "As soon as I was out of the seminary, I never went back.""As a seminarian, I was registered in the HY [Hitler Youth]," he said then. "As soon as I was out of the seminary, I never went back."
The Rev Lombardi sought to make a distinction between the anti-aircraft auxiliary corps the Pope was enrolled in towards the end of the war and the Hitler Youth, which he described as a "corps of volunteers, fanatically, ideologically for the Nazis".The Rev Lombardi sought to make a distinction between the anti-aircraft auxiliary corps the Pope was enrolled in towards the end of the war and the Hitler Youth, which he described as a "corps of volunteers, fanatically, ideologically for the Nazis".
For a controversy which had been puttering to an end, the Vatican appears to have fanned it energetically back into life, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem.For a controversy which had been puttering to an end, the Vatican appears to have fanned it energetically back into life, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem.
There has already been criticism from Israeli politicians and commentators, who said that in his speech on Monday the Pope failed to express enough remorse for the Holocaust.There has already been criticism from Israeli politicians and commentators, who said that in his speech on Monday the Pope failed to express enough remorse for the Holocaust.
'Lasting reconciliation''Lasting reconciliation'
The row came as Pope Benedict visited sites in Jerusalem holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians.The row came as Pope Benedict visited sites in Jerusalem holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians.
He went first to the Dome of the Rock, located on the Temple Mount - a site sacred to all three monotheistic religions, and met the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Mohammad Hussein.He went first to the Dome of the Rock, located on the Temple Mount - a site sacred to all three monotheistic religions, and met the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Mohammad Hussein.
POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites Pope in the Mid East: The issues In pictures: Pope in JerusalemPOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites Pope in the Mid East: The issues In pictures: Pope in Jerusalem
Then the Pope followed Jewish tradition at the Western Wall, inserting a written prayer in the cracks between the 2,000-year-old stones.Then the Pope followed Jewish tradition at the Western Wall, inserting a written prayer in the cracks between the 2,000-year-old stones.
He emphasised the ties that bind Christianity with Islam, and with Judaism.He emphasised the ties that bind Christianity with Islam, and with Judaism.
"Today I have the opportunity to repeat that the Catholic Church is irrevocably committed to...a genuine and lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews," he said."Today I have the opportunity to repeat that the Catholic Church is irrevocably committed to...a genuine and lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews," he said.
Later at a Mass in the Josaphat Valley, he said it was a "tragic reality" that many Christians had left the region.Later at a Mass in the Josaphat Valley, he said it was a "tragic reality" that many Christians had left the region.
"In the Holy Land there is room for everyone," he said, prompting applause from the congregation."In the Holy Land there is room for everyone," he said, prompting applause from the congregation.
Israel has beefed up security for the trip in an operation named "White Robe", with tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers deployed and entire sections of Jerusalem shut down.Israel has beefed up security for the trip in an operation named "White Robe", with tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers deployed and entire sections of Jerusalem shut down.
The pontiff will later visit the site reputed to be where Jesus took his Last Supper before his crucifixion and resurrection.The pontiff will later visit the site reputed to be where Jesus took his Last Supper before his crucifixion and resurrection.