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"In
fact, the Holy Land does not need walls but bridges," the
pope
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VATICAN
CITY, November 16 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Pope John Paul
II on Sunday, November 16, criticized Israel for building a separation
wall in the West Bank, saying the Middle East "does not need walls
but bridges."
"The
construction of the wall between the Israeli people and the Palestinian
people is seen by many as a new obstacle on the road leading to peaceful
cohabitation," Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the pope as
saying.
"In
fact, the Holy Land does not need walls but bridges," he said.
Leading
prayers from the balcony of his residence, the pope also lamented the
loss of momentum in the Middle East peace process and called for
reconciliation.
"Unfortunately,
the momentum for peace seems to have stopped…Without reconciliation,
there cannot be peace," he said.
It
was the first time that the pontiff had criticized Israel's construction
of the 700-kilometer wall and the comments made during Sunday prayers
came on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's arrival for a
visit to Italy.
Despite
his defense of the Palestinians, the Pope has consistently championed
the right of Israel, with which he established diplomatic relations, to
live in peace.
Branded
by the Palestinians as the "Apartheid Wall", the barrier
effectively cuts off large swathes of fertile land and scores of
villages from the rest of the Palestinian territory.
The
wall will further cut occupied Jerusalem off from the rest of the West
Bank. It could cost up to $2.2 million a kilometer or a total of $1.8
billion.
The
first phase of the barrier was completed in July 2003 in the northern
West Bank. The defiant Israeli government of Ariel Sharon approved
last month a new 100-million-dollar section of the controversial
barrier.
The
Palestinian Authority fears the real aim of the wall is to dictate the
borders of its promised state.
Last
week, the United Nations condemned the wall in a new report, which
warned that it would lead to severe
humanitarian consequences for more than 680,000 Palestinians (30 percent),
according to a new United Nations report.
The
U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution last month,
demanding Tel Aviv to "stop and
reserve" the construction of its separation wall.
Respect
For Life
"I
renew my strong condemnation of all acts of terrorism committed recently
in the Holy Land," The Pope also said.
"At
the same time, I have to remark on the fact that the dynamic toward
peace appears to have been halted."
Referring
to the bombing of an Italian police base in Iraq in which 19 Italians
and nine Iraqis were killed, and the bombing of two synagogues in
Istanbul in which 23 died, the pope condemned the "nefarious and
particularly devastating work of armed extremists".
He
said he was praying for the injured, for those mourning the dead, and
for those tending the wounded and repairing the damage.
He
warned against the danger of succumbing to the desire for reprisal.
"Respect
for life, international solidarity and obedience of laws must prevail
over hate and violence," the pope said.
