Wrong. Instead, they went with a poetic Getty image: little children peaking over a little wall. How enchanting! (more…)

To be frank, I couldn’t care less what this lousy Pope does or does not say during his little tour of the Middle-East. I’m strongly opposed to the unfounded respect instinctively granted to religious leaders. Why should anyone care what this man says? Because he wears a silly hat and prays to a mythological man in the sky? Come on. I wouldn’t mind so much if this Pope had actually done something worthwhile or noble with his life (think Desmond Tutu) — but we’re talking about a former Hitler Youth member who has expressed bigoted views against both Jews and Muslims. So he can keep his silly hat and his lousy statements to himself.

“Israel destroyed our home, exiled our people, built settlements, ruined the Muslim holy sites, and slaughtered women, children and senior citizens in Gaza,” he continued. (more…)

Those present in the hall attempted to silence him, but he continued, slamming Israel for “destroying Palestinian cities and erecting settlements on Palestinian land. Jerusalem will remain the Palestinian people’s capital,” he said in Arabic, and called on the heads of the other religions present to “defend the Palestinians and their lands.” (more…)

“However many flags” the Israelis put up around East Jerusalem, that “does not give Israel any sovereignty over it,” Mr. Husseini said. He was referring to the Israeli flags flying with Vatican flags along the routes the pope was expected to travel, including in East Jerusalem. (more…)

After intense lobbying aides agreed the Pope would not make an address on a specially constructed stage in a Palestinian refugee camp that abuts the Israeli security barrier. That platform would have provided television cameras with powerful images of him speaking against the wall, which cuts off Palestinian communities, and even of Israeli watchtowers in the background. The address will be given inside, instead. (more…)

During his visit, the pope will be personally accompanied by the Palestinian Authority’s military intelligence and Preventive Security Service. (more…)

The outdoor theater is being built next to the wall for the pope’s visit to Aida camp May 13. The Palestinians say they chose the spot to highlight life under Israeli military occupation.

However, the Israeli government has ordered the construction to stop, saying camp organizers lack the necessary permits and that the theater’s proximity to the wall poses a security risk. (more…)