Pope Leo XIV Backs Two-State Solution, Urges Peace

On Sunday, from his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV once again called for an immediate end to violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the occupied West Bank. He was responding to an increase in attacks by militant settlers and the siege of the village of Qusra, where residents have been cut off from water and electricity in an effort to seize more land.

The pope urged the international community to support a just and lasting peace through a two-state solution.

The Vatican is thus continuing its long-standing policy of supporting a future Palestinian state comprising Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, a position recognized by the majority of UN member states.

However, efforts to establish an independent state are being thwarted by the policies of Israel's coalition government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is pushing for massive settlement construction. While the UN and most of the international community consider these settlements illegal under international law, Israel describes the territory, occupied since the 1967 war, as disputed.

(Reuters, Max)