73. His Holiness visiting Israel

Haaretz - February 16, 2006

The Dalai Lama, who arrived in Israel for his fourth visit Wednesday, said the purpose of his trip was to bring human beings closer, and the fact that neither Israeli nor Palestinian officials had agreed to meet with him did not seem to bother him. "This has nothing to do with governments," the Dalai Lama said. "I want to say to both peoples that through violence they will attain nothing in the long term, and will only complicate things and create more hatred. After 50 years the time has come to think and to find a way for dialogue. The Israelis have to respect thePalestinians and vice-versa. There is readiness for dialogue on both sides, so really, the time has come". The Dalai Lama said it was "to early to say" whether Israel should talk to Hamas. "I think we should wait and see," he added, appealing to Hamas to turn away from violence and to approach the situation "more realistically." The 70-year-old leader was in Israel for a crowded five days of lectures on Buddhism, meetings with the Israel-Tibetan Friendship League, and a tour of Bethlehem. He said he would be meeting with Palestinians in Bethlehem, and "so if some Hamas people may join, then I am happy to see them." The Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office are ignoring the visit in light of its complicated relations with China, including the cancellation of the sale of Phalcon radar systems to China. However the Shin Bet security service provided a bodyguard for the Dalai Lama, over protests from Beijing.