I am so pleased that this sear the Catholic Herald has published at least a part of the Pope's plea For humane consideration of the plight of the Palestinians; whose cause, in his own words. "demands a just and generous response."
The Pope, in addition to the words reported in your issue of January 4, said that he was preoccupied both with the living conditions and the future fate of those who have suffered so greatly and who still suffer on account of the vicissitudes endured between 1947 and the present day. Ile said: "We think particularly of those hundreds of thousands who have had to fly from their own country and who arc reduced to a desperate way of living, or those who meet resistance to their legitimate aspirations." Last year I looked in vain for any mention in the Catholic press of the Pope's impassioned call for justice for the Palestinians, whose cause had waited even then so long for recognition. (Miss) M. Lyle 23 Alexandra Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. interest in the occupied territories as such." This is untrue, Many Israelis in positions of 'ower arc interested in holding on for ever to much of the occupied territories. Arab East Jerusalem has actually been annexed and many Arab houses bulldozed to make way for Jewish dwellings or for a large space in front of the Wailing Wall.
Radio Israel announced on August 18 last year that 35 new Jewish villages would be installed in the occupied territories "over the next five years." These settlements, which will be in addition to the 48 that have already been established or are in the course of construction, will he situated on the Golan Heights. in the Jordan Valley, etc.
On Aug. 21 last General Dyan told the International Congress of Jewish Jurists at Jerusalem: Wherever we decide to create new Israeli settlements we shall take into account the fact that these regions will remain under our control and must he included within the frontiers of the country after the conclusion of a peace treaty." (Le Monde 23.8.1973)
John Adkins