President Zalman Shazar and Israel’s entire Cabinet will meet Pope Paul VI twice, when the Pontiff visits Israel on January 5, according to plans presented to the Cabinet today.
The plans were presented on behalf of the special Ministerial Committee by Deputy Premier Abba S. Eban, As planned, the Pope will be greeted when he enters Israel near the Jordanian border, at Megiddo. Some 10 hours later, when the Pontiff leaves Israel for his return to Jordan, via the Mandelbaum Gate, in Jerusalem, President Shazar and the Cabinet will be there to say farewell to the head of the Catholic Church.
At the Mandelbaum Gate, there will be a brief ceremony, lasting two minutes. During the Pontiff’s visit, the Pope will be accompanied by an entourage of 31 persons. When Pope Paul enters Jerusalem, on his return trip to Jordan, he will be greeted by Jerusalem’s Mayor Mordechai Ish-Shalom and other city officials.
3,000 ISRAELI POLICEMEN WILL GUARD PONTIFF DURING VISIT
Mr. Eban reported that the plans have been approved by Vatican authorities. Under the arrangements, the Pope will be accompanied by a security detail from the Vatican, but none of the Swiss Guards, who act as the Pope’s personal bodyguards at the Vatican, will be with him. All responsibility for the security of the Pope and his entourage in Israel will be delegated to Israeli authorities. About 3,000 Israeli policemen will be on duty as guards for the visitors from the Vatican.
Meanwhile, there was dissatisfaction with the arrangements in the Israeli press and among some of the opposition parties. Davar, pro-government organ of the Histadrut, expressed the opinion today that only the Cabinet should go to meet the Pope at Megiddo, but not President Shazar. The Herut Party and other newspapers also complained against the fact that the Pope will not enter Israel in Jerusalem.
Israel’s police chief, Gol. Joseph Nahmias, and Theodore Kollek, director-general of the Premier’s office, returned to Israel last night from a visit to the Vatican, where they aided in working out details of the Pope’s scheduled visit. Mr. Kollek said there was enormous interest throughout Europe in the Pope’s unprecedented visit and that all newspapers were making preparations for covering the visit and were expected to send large numbers of correspondents and cameramen to cover the event itself.
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