Pope Francis promotes Palestinian state

Bravo to Good Pope Francis for having the Vatican formally recognize Palestine as a state. The Vatican follows 185 countries who have recognized the Palestinian state since 1988. A biggie, Sweden, was the most recent last year. England, France, Spain and the Ireland are all considering measures to join in the long overdue full creation of Palestine. Sadly, the two that really count, the US and, of course, the Palestinians' oppressor, Is...rael, still say "No way." The US Congress, a huge portion of which, is both terrified of and supported by the Israel Lobby, won't lift a finger to do the right thing. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who this same bought-off Congress invited to speak before them to derail the president's peace efforts with Israel's bête noir Iran, told his nation there will be no Palestinian state on his endless watch. Meanwhile, Israel continues to build settlements and Palestinian land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, to literally cement Palestine out of existence.

The Pope's support for Palestine is going to be a tough symbolic challenge to Israel's system of Palestinian Apartheid that remains one of the world's most shameful human tragedies; a tragedy the US supports. But with Good Pope Francis on their side, the Palestinians have a new glimmer of hope.