The Egyptian newspaper al-Gomhureya carried a piece praising some of the content of the Roman Catholic Pope?s speech on the state of the world. The article calls on Americans and Europeans to consider the Pope?s speech carefully , for it may serve to ?remove fear? [which] shamefully haunts them whenever they find Israel a party in a specific relation be it political, economic or cultural.? Israelis, for their part, are explicitly excluded from the Egyptian author?s call to ?contemplate the significant statements? made by the Pope, because ?the hatred of Christianity is deeply inherited in the Jews? hearts.?



According to the al-Gomhureya article, the Pope ?blamed ?man? for turning the holy land into land inflicted with blood and fire.? The Catholic leader is further quoted as saying, ?Nobody can ever stay disregarding the oppression the Palestinians are exposed to as victims over more than fifty years. The logic of revenge is no more valid in reaching peace.?