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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pope meets Israel's new prime minister | Pope meets Israel's new prime minister |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel's right-wing new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has held talks with Pope Benedict on the pontiff's visit to the Israeli town of Nazareth. | Israel's right-wing new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has held talks with Pope Benedict on the pontiff's visit to the Israeli town of Nazareth. |
| TV cameras were allowed to capture the two men sitting down together but the talks themselves were private. | TV cameras were allowed to capture the two men sitting down together but the talks themselves were private. |
| Pope Benedict repeatedly has called for a separate Palestinian state during his tour of the Holy Land. | Pope Benedict repeatedly has called for a separate Palestinian state during his tour of the Holy Land. |
| Mr Netanyahu has not committed himself to the principle of two states, which past Israeli leaders have accepted. | Mr Netanyahu has not committed himself to the principle of two states, which past Israeli leaders have accepted. |
| His election this year was ill-received in the Arab world because of his hard-line views, including his opposition to returning land captured in wars. | His election this year was ill-received in the Arab world because of his hard-line views, including his opposition to returning land captured in wars. |
| He made a lightning visit to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah this week after a trip to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office. | He made a lightning visit to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah this week after a trip to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office. |
| Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May. | Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May. |
| 'Right to a homeland' | 'Right to a homeland' |
| No details were released of the meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Benedict in a Franciscan convent adjacent to Nazareth's Basilica of the Annunciation. | No details were released of the meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Benedict in a Franciscan convent adjacent to Nazareth's Basilica of the Annunciation. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Later, the Pope attended a meeting with religious leaders. | Later, the Pope attended a meeting with religious leaders. |
| In Bethlehem on Wednesday, the Pope delivered what correspondents say was one of his strongest expressions of support for the Palestinians, offering his backing for Palestinians' right to a "homeland". | In Bethlehem on Wednesday, the Pope delivered what correspondents say was one of his strongest expressions of support for the Palestinians, offering his backing for Palestinians' right to a "homeland". |
| He told Palestinian refugees his heart went out to families divided by detention and restrictions on freedom of movement, a reference to Israeli military control of the West Bank. | He told Palestinian refugees his heart went out to families divided by detention and restrictions on freedom of movement, a reference to Israeli military control of the West Bank. |
| "It is understandable that you often feel frustrated," the pontiff said. | "It is understandable that you often feel frustrated," the pontiff said. |
| "Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian state, remain unfulfilled." | "Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian state, remain unfulfilled." |
| Earlier on Thursday, Pope Benedict said the largest Mass of his Holy Land tour, during his Nazareth visit. | Earlier on Thursday, Pope Benedict said the largest Mass of his Holy Land tour, during his Nazareth visit. |
| He preached against prejudice and hatred "which kills men's souls before it kills their bodies". | He preached against prejudice and hatred "which kills men's souls before it kills their bodies". |
| Tens of thousands of Christians, among them many Arabs, attended the service in the northern Israeli town where Jesus is said to have grown up. | Tens of thousands of Christians, among them many Arabs, attended the service in the northern Israeli town where Jesus is said to have grown up. |
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| The Pope celebrates Mass in Nazareth |