” “"We hope the formation of a nationally-united government will give stability to the Palestinian population and restart the peace negotiations. This agreement could be guaranteed by Islam’s sacred place, Mecca, in which it was achieved, and by the presence of Saudi Arabia that supported it". This was stated to SIR by the secretary general of Celra, the Latin Bishops Conference of the Arab Regions, father Pierre Grech. "In Gaza it looked like there was a civil war he states as he recalls the fighting between Hamas and Fatah which killed 90 people in other areas, such as Cis-Jordan, there was less tension but it was tangible. We hope that with a well-defined political situation pilgrims will come back too". As to this, announces father Grech, "from 12th to 17th February we will have a big pilgrimage with as many as 580 French pilgrims led by the archbishop of Paris, mgr. Vingt-Trois, with the help of another 5 bishops and over one hundred priests. Supported by the Israeli Tourist Ministry, the pilgrimage will cover the holy places and the places worshipped by the Jews, such as the Yad Vashem, the Shoah memorial. Currently we have many groups from Poland, from the far East and also a group of 22 Chinese priests of the national Church". ” “
