Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Vatican's position supporting a Palestinian state alongside Israel, speaking en route from Turkey to Lebanon during his first foreign trip since becoming the leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church in May.
"For years now, the Holy See has publicly supported the proposal for a two-state solution. We all know that Israel does not yet accept this proposal, but we see it as the only solution that could offer a resolution to the ongoing conflict they are constantly living through," the pontiff told journalists on the flight in Italian.
"We are also friends with Israel and we are seeking to be a mediating voice between the two parties that might help them close in on a solution with justice for everyone," the 70-year-old added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on November 16 that Israel will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
“Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any territory west of the Jordan River exists, is firm, and has not changed in the slightest,” Netanyahu said, rejecting a US-backed statement calling for a “pathway” for creating “Palestine.”
A recent survey by the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) found overwhelming Israeli opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The poll of 698 Jewish and Arab Israelis, conducted from November 16-17 by Menachem Lazar, found 70 per cent (±3.7 per cent) of Israelis opposed a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines — the highest level of opposition recorded by the centre since the war began.
Among Jewish Israelis, opposition stands at 79 per cent.
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