Pope visit to boost Palestinian calls for statehood
Palestinians are eagerly preparing for the visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land, where he is expected to express his support for Palestinian rights and statehood.
Political analyst Rami Khouri gives two main causes for the anger that has brought Arabs to the streets: humiliation and the search of legitimacy. These sources are clear as Palestinians prepare for the visit of Pope Francis to Palestine as part of his Holy Land visit that also includes Jordan and Israel.
The Palestinians are looking to Pope Francis to help legitimize their aspirations of independence and statehood, and hope the visit will shine a light on their decades of refugee existence, occupation and colonial settlement. Much effort went into ensuring that the pontiff’s visit to Palestine precedes his visit to Israel so as not to create the impression that Palestine is an internal Israeli issue.
The latest schedule issued by the church and Palestinian officials indicates that the pope will arrive in Bethlehem by a Jordanian military helicopter. A news report by AFP quoted a Palestinian church official as saying that the pope will arrive in Bethlehem without crossing the Israeli-controlled King Hussein Bridge or any Israeli checkpoint, and will “recognize Palestine” and oppose the occupation.
The official itinerary says that the pope will meet President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential headquarters in Bethlehem. In capital letters, the schedule says that on the morning of May 25, the pope will make a “courtesy visit to the president of the State of Palestine.” The visit to Palestine will also include a short stop for a meeting with Palestinian refugee children from Aida, Dheisheh and Beit Jibrin.
