From the UK Tablet:
THE ANNOUNCEMENT last week that the President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, is to visit the Vatican on 17 November has been widely seen as momentous. After almost 2,000 years of enmity, this is another giant step towards lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews. It is clear already, after Benedict XVI’s visit to a synagogue in Cologne on World Youth Day, and his hosting of a visit by senior rabbis on 15 September, that relations between the Catholic Church and Judaism will be a main focus of his papacy.
Good news, where I imagine many issues regarding the treatment of Palestinian Christians and Catholic clergy will be addressed. Yes, the issues are sensitive (I’m sure the Israelis have a lengthy list of security and other concerns to approach the Vatican with as well), but this visit is certainly a step in the right direction concerning the custody of the Holy Sites in Israel.