Pope John Paul II calls on Israeli President to ensure access to Bethlehem

During his meeting with the Israeli President Moshe Katsav in the Vatican yesterday, Pope John Paul II called for ensuring the liberty of having access to Bethlehem on the occasion of the Christmas.

During the talks which lasted for 15 minutes with Katsav, the Pope, according to the spokesman for the Vatican, said that cooperation between Israel and a Palestinian state is the way that should be pursued in order to end the conflict.

Following his meeting with the Pope, Katsav held discussions with the Vatican's secretary of state and with the Vatican's Papal nuncio. The spokesman said that "deepened talks were dedicated for the drastic condition in the holy lands, on which every side expressed own views regarding them." The spokesman added that the Vatican has repeated its position in supporting the foundation of two states and their cooperation, and the need of reaching a quick end for the current conflict." Katsav arrived in Italy on Tuesday in a visit which lasts for three days. He is the first Israeli president to be received by the Pope in the Vatican.

Meantime, the Israeli embassy to the Vatican said in a statement that Katsav promised to redeploy the army outside Bethlehem if there will be no "warnings of terrorist operations."