The Catholic Church, however, is not entirely supportive of Zionism, claiming that is has a desire for both Jews and Palestinians to have a homeland.
Beyond that statement, the church doesn't have any specific views, and is rather vague. It leaves the door open for support of both sides, and does not alienate anyone from the church.
Another turning point was when Pope John Paul II visited Israel in 2000. He was known as a great pope when it came to improving Catholic-Jewish relations, and he reportedly visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem and placed a prayer for forgiveness in it for all the church's wrongdoings toward the Jewish people. He was quoted saying, "No matter how difficult, no matter how long, the process of peace must continue."
Lautt was not entirely pro-Israeli, however. In the lecture she said, "The Palestinians are people who have suffered and continue to suffer the powerlessness of deprivation."
Lautt took an unbiased view of the situation, and concluded that both parties have equal right and legitimacy to be there, and that a two-state system is the best and the only solution.
Langer spoke more briefly and drew on her personal experience as a Jew who has lived in Israel for a number of years.
Her addition to the lecture was mainly her personal experiences and accounts of living conditions in Israel, and of how the blame for the situation cannot be placed entirely on Israel.
Spring Break
