Mideast peace in focus at Brussels meeting

Palestinian leaders pushed for UN recognition of a Palestinian state this week at a Mideast peace conference in Brussels. The General Delegate of Palestine to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, Leila Shahid told participants that statehood for the Palestinian Territories is essential for security and peace throughout the entire region. “We think that we need statehood and independence for the security and the future of our people,” she said, adding, “the two state solution is the only solution that can ensure in the Middle East a peaceful settlement of this conflict.”

The Holy See supports statehood for Palestine, and recognizes the need for peace and security in the region to be based on agreements founded in justice.

During his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. During a reception held for him in Bethlehem, the Pope told the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that the Holy See is in favour of a sovereign Palestinian homeland:

The Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbours, within internationally recognized borders. Even if at present that goal seems far from being realized, I urge you and all your people to keep alive the flame of hope, hope that a way can be found of meeting the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for peace and stability.

More recently, during an audience with President Abbas at the Vatican earlier this month, the Pope and the President put particular stress on the urgent need to find a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A statement from the Press Office of the Holy See following their conversations reiterated the Holy See’s position, saying any real solution must be capable of ensuring respect for the rights of all and, therefore, the attainment of the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations for an independent State. The communiqué went on to say that soon the State of Israel and the Palestinian State must live in security, at peace with their neighbours and within internationally recognized borders.

“In this framework,” it continued, “with the support of the international community and in a spirit of cooperation and openness to reconciliation, the Holy Land will come to know peace.” Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since last year. The UN-sponsored meeting in Brussels opened on Tuesday and concluded Wednesday afternoon.

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