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What Pope Francis Can Do for Mideast Peace

(New York Post) Einat Wilf - According to the pope's itinerary, after Jordan, and before Israel, he will be visiting the State of Palestine. In using this language, the pope and the Vatican are demonstrating their view that the State of Palestine exists. The pope's itinerary also says that while in the State of Palestine, he will visit a Palestinian refugee camp. This means that, according to his itinerary, the pope is in the State of Palestine, and yet he visits refugees from Palestine. In all other international circumstances, this would not be possible. So why are there people living in Palestine called refugees from Palestine? The answer is that these people are called refugees due to the belief that Palestine is not limited to the State of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza, but that it includes the State of Israel. Just as the pope has made it clear he visits the State of Palestine, so should he send a clear message to the Palestinians that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination in the Land of Israel. Former Knesset member Dr. Einat Wilf is a Washington Institute for Near East Policy adjunct fellow and a senior fellow with the Jewish People Policy Institute.
2014-05-23 00:00:00
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