Marathon to Promote Peace in the Holy Land ROME, MARCH 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).

ROME, MARCH 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Palestinians, Israelis and pilgrims from around the world will participate April 14 in a marathon-pilgrimage, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, to promote peace in the Holy Land.

The diocesan-run Roman Society of Pilgrimages is organizing the event.

"The message we wish to launch is, above all, a message of dialogue, a message of peace, a message of solidarity," said Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, administrator delegate of the group, at a press conference Wednesday.

The marathon course is restricted to those who live in the area, although pilgrims from abroad may follow the event, the monsignor said.

"With this marathon-pilgrimage we also want to make it possible for Israelis and Palestinians to pass through the Bethlehem check-point," he said.

Also on hand at the press conference was Cardinal Pio Laghi, retired prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education.

He said, "When the athletes run through those streets, they cannot but be conscious in mind and heart of the mysticism of those holy places for the three great monotheist religions."

ZE05032401

email this article: http://www.zenit.org/english/send_friend/index.phtml?sid=68328

More Pilgrims Going to Jerusalem for Holy Week JERUSALEM, MARCH 22, 2005 (Zenit.org)

JERUSALEM, MARCH 22, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem for Holy Week are more numerous than last year, but they are still few compared to the crowds that visited before the 2000 intifada.

On Palm Sunday, some 15,000 pilgrims took part in the procession of the Latin-rite Catholic Church, from the Mount of Olives to the old city of Jerusalem, recalling Jesus' triumphal entrance there.

Among the participants were foreign pilgrims returning to the Holy Land in a period of calm after four years of violence.

Until the year 2000, about 150,000 pilgrims arrived in the Holy Land for the Latin Catholic Holy Week.

The Palm Sunday procession, which ended in the Church of St. Anne, was blessed by the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem.

Several bishops' conferences in the West have encouraged the faithful to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to express spiritual closeness to the Christians there and to help boost the local economies.

ZE05032229

email this article: http://www.zenit.org/english/send_friend/index.phtml?sid=68206

Palm Sunday pilgrims retrace Jesus' trip to Jerusalem 21 Mar 2005, CathNews

Thousands of Christian pilgrims, the crowd swelled by foreigners taking advantage of a lull in Israeli-Palestinian violence, waved plms yesterday as they marched from the Mount of Olives into the Jerusalem's Old City to re-enact Jesus' triumphant return.

In Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians turned their Palm Sunday procession into a demonstration against Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

Pilgrims walked in the sunshine down the Mount of Olives and up the hill across from it into the Old City of Jerusalem. Priests, led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, wore colorful frocks. Many of the marchers carried flags as well as palm leaves.

The large crowd reflected a restoration of calm in the region after four years of Palestinian-Israeli violence. Tourists from around the world joined local Christians for the walk of about an hour.

From 2000 to 2004 the number of Christian tourists visiting Israel dropped by one-third. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism projects an increase of 500,000 foreign visitors this year, hoping many will be Christians.

Meanwhile Pope John Paul II was cheered by thousands as he appeared at his Vatican window and waved an olive branch at Palm Sunday pilgrims.

The Holy Father is recovering from a tracheotomy that was preformed after he experienced difficulty breathing.

For the first time in his 26-year papacy, the pope will not officiate at Holy Week services. However the BBC has reported that he has told Vatican officials he wants to deliver the Easter Sunday morning blessing and message.

The pope watched the Palm Sunday service on TV in his Vatican apartment. His doctors have advised him to avoid contact with crowds, because he has a high risk of infection.

Rosary for peace, against wall, says a Bethlehem nun 15 March, 2005 ISRAEL – PALESTINE Bethlehem (AsiaNews)

Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – The Elizabethan Sisters working at Bethlehem’s Baby Caritas Hospital and local Christians have been praying the rosary in front of Israel’s wall every Thursday. By their example, they hope to encourage peace between Israelis and Palestinians and at the same time express their opposition to wall.

Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today unveiled the final route of the ‘security barrier’ whose construction he ordered more than a year ago to stop Palestinians from launching terrorist attacks into Israel itself. Palestinians oppose this ‘barrier’ because it annexes their land and makes their daily movement that more difficult.

Around Bethlehem wall construction is near completion. It includes the check-point between Bethlehem itself and Jerusalem, the Jewish settlement of Ghilo, Rachel’s Tomb, and stands at only 200 metres from the Baby Caritas Catholic hospital.

Further north, the wall extends eastward to encompass the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim.

“Since June of last year we meet every week at the wall to pray the rosary that peace may come between the two peoples and to say no to the wall,” said Sister Ileana Benetello, who has been in the Holy Land for 23 years.

“In the beginning the soldiers gave us a hard time. They would turn the floodlights on us and keep us under their watchful eye. But now they don’t bother us any more”.

Near Bethlehem, the wall has taken in several olive groves owned by Christian Armenian families. It is unclear whether the Israelis have simply confiscated the land or expropriated it with compensation for the owners.

Sister Ileana explained that “the wall is almost completed with two openings, one for people to cross, the other for cargo and customs.”

The Italian nun noted that the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Places has been rising recently. She has said that Israel has also been issuing more work permits to Palestinians, “however, the situation remains very difficult”.

For many Palestinians in Bethlehem, the wall has also created an additional moral dilemma. “To make a living, many Palestinians accept to work on the wall construction,” Sister Ileana said.

“I am not sure they all realise in what contradiction they are putting themselves. It is something abominable that cannot go on. They are building their own prison,” she added. (LF)

Wall to encompass East Jerusalem Jericho is to be turned over to Palestinian authorities. Among Palestinians support for terrorism as a means to achieve Palestinian statehood drops considerably, 15 March, 2005 ISRAEL – PALESTINE Bethlehem (AsiaNews)

Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) – With construction expected to be completed by the end of the year, the Israeli government confirmed today that the security wall it is building around the West Bank will encompass East Jerusalem, Maaleh Adumim (the West Bank’s main Jewish settlement) and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem.

Palestinians have warned that the decision to unilaterally fix the border could jeopardise peace talks. “This is a policy of dictation and not negotiation,” said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

The route of the barrier goes around Maaleh Adumim (30,000 residents), which is almost ten kilometres east of Jerusalem.

“Does anyone have even the slightest doubt that Maaleh Adumim is an integral part of Israel?” said Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Despite this controversy over the wall, Israel has agreed to hand over control of the West Bank town of Jericho to Palestinian officials on Wednesday, to be followed two or three days later by Tulkarem. Ramallah, Bethlehem and Qalqilya are also set to be returned to Palestinian police control in the near future.

In the meantime, an intra-Palestinian summit is taking place in Cairo (Egypt). Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to get Palestinian factions and militant groups to agree to a truce with Israel.

Support among Palestinians for terrorist violence in pursuit of Palestinian statehood has dropped sharply in recent months, according to a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research published yesterday. Only 29 per cent of respondents approved of last month’s bombing in Tel Aviv that killed five Israelis, compared to 77 per cent who supported an August bus bombing that killed 16 Israelis in the town of Beersheba. (LF)