Pope Benedict has called on Israel to reduce travel restrictions on Arab Christians and Muslims in Judea and Samaria and help halt the rapid decline of Christians in the Jewish state. He did not cite Muslim oppression of Christians, which has driven most of the Christian population out of the city of Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, and from Gaza.
The Pope urged Israel to remove the security measures that limit the ability of terrorists to roam freely. He added that doing so would allow Christians "to enjoy greater peace and security," Reuters News Agency reported. Addressing Israel before receiving Israel's new ambassador to the Vatican, the Pope said, "I know that you share my concern over the alarming decline in the Christian population in the Middle East, including Israel, through emigration."