Middle East News
Abbas thanks pope for "understanding" Palestinian suffering (Extra)
May 13, 2009, 6:46 GMT
Bethlehem, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday for the Vatican's position understanding the 'suffering of our people' and called for a peace agreement with Israel based on a two-state solution.
Welcoming the pontiff to Bethlehem, Abbas said the pope 'is here, sharing our pain and our ambitions.'
'You said there is hope, and hope in a tomorrow where there is no occupation, no checkpoints, no wall, no refugees, no prisoners, but coexistence in the Holy Land,' the Palestinian leader told the Pope.
Benedict arrived in Bethlehem early Wednesday morning for a day-long visit to the southern West Bank city, during which he will visit Christian holy sites and also tour a Palestinian refugee camp.
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