April 08, 2005

Katsav meets Khatami at pope's funeral

President Moshe Katsav shook hands and chatted briefly Friday with the leaders of >Israel's arch-enemies, Syria and Iran, during the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the president's office said.

Katsav's spokeswoman, Hagit Cohen, said it was too early to say whether the handshakes would yield diplomatic fruits, but called the exchanges historic. "There is no doubt that this is a precedent, it was a historic moment and unique opportunity," Cohen said.

[Pope JPII channels the spirit of God to work another miracle!
His funeral has already sparked a spiritual awakening and re-awakening all over the world.
No wonder the pilgrims were saying "Santo Subito!"--Jen]
[...]
Katsav told Israeli media that he shook hands twice with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who sat one row behind him during the service. Dignitaries were seated in alphabetical order, according to their countries.

Katsav said the first handshake occurred when he turned to shake hands with the nearby Swiss leader. "The Syrian president also stood there. We exchanged smiles and shook hands," Katsav told the Web site of the Maariv daily.

"During the prayers, according to the Christian tradition we exchanged handshakes ... During this, it was the Syrian president who extended his hand to me and we again shook hands," he said.

The Iranian-born Katsav also spoke briefly with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami in Farsi.

Katsav said that as he was leaving, "the Iranian president held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and greeted him in Farsi."

Cohen said the men conversed about Yazd, the city in central Iran where both men were born.

Isn't that a strange "coincidence?" Both men are from the same Iranian town! What are the chances?
A journey begins with a single step, so maybe this is the first step on the road to a real peace in the Middle East--I know the Pope would have blessed and appreciated this moment and it only served to echo all similar meetings he'd held with world leaders for reconciliation and peace with powers previously thought to be enemies of the Church .