Mideast needs 2-state solution: Pope
 

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis used his Christmas message on Monday to call for a negotiated two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after US President Donald Trump stoked regional tensions with his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel´s capital. Francis spoke of the Middle East conflict and other world flashpoints in his ?Urbi et Orbi? (to the city and the world) address, four days after more than 120 countries backed a UN resolution urging the United States to reverse its decision on Jerusalem. ?Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognised borders,? he said, referring to the Israelis and Palestinians. ?We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians,? he said in his address, delivered from the balcony of St. Peter´s Basilica to tens of thousands of people. It was the second time that the pope has spoken out publicly about Jerusalem since Trump´s decision on Dec. 6.
Meanwhile, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said on Sunday he had given instructions to move the Central American country´s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a few days after his government backed the United States in a row over the city´s status.
In a short post on his official Facebook account, Morales said he decided to move the embassy from Tel Aviv after talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.Palestinians say Guatemala embassy move ?shameful?: The Palestinian foreign ministry on Monday said Guatemala?s decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem after the United States recognised the city as the capital of Israel was ?shameful?.?It?s a shameful and illegal act that goes totally against the wishes of church leaders in Jerusalem? and of a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution condemning the US recognition, the ministry said in a statement.

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