Pelosi Tours Jerusalem's Holy Sites

Amidst Criticism House Speaker Leads Delegation To Middle East

(CBS/AP)  The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, toured Jerusalem holy sites Saturday, along with a congressional delegation that included Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress.

The tour came on the delegation's first full day in Jerusalem, the first stop on their fact-finding trip to the Middle East. The group arrived here Friday.

Flanked by security guards, Pelosi and the delegation toured the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the traditional site of Jesus' burial, in Jerusalem's Old City. They also visited the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, where Jews have gathered for centuries to pray.

The group looked like any another busload of American tourists visiting the region's holy sights on a warm Jerusalem spring day — but with security guards wearing earpieces to move the delegation along. The tour was not announced ahead of time.

Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, said he hoped to visit the compound above the Western Wall known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The compound, the site of the biblical temples as well as the third holiest site in Islam, is one of the main points of friction between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East conflict.

"I haven't seen it yet, but I hope to, I'm really looking forward to it," Ellison said of the compound, which is also home to the Dome of Rock shrine.

Ellison said his presence — as a Muslim — on the trip sent a message to Israelis and Palestinians that "people can come together."

"Reconciliation is possible," he said.

Pelosi's delegation intends to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the coming days.

On Sunday, Pelosi, a Democrat from California, is to address the Israeli Knesset in her first speech to a foreign government legislature.

As part of the trip, Pelosi and the delegation will visit Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The Syria stop has irked the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, which considers the country a sponsor of terror.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the speaker "should take a step back and think about the message that it sends."

"This is a country that is a state sponsor of terror, one that is trying to disrupt the Saniora government in Lebanon and one that is allowing foreign fighters to flow into Iraq from its borders," Perino said. Fuad Saniora is prime minister of Lebanon.

Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said the delegation "intends to discuss a wide range of security issues affecting the United States and the Middle East with representatives of governments in the region, including Syria," as recommended by the Iraq Study Group.

The independent bipartisan commission suggested in December that engaging Syria and Iran could help the war effort. The Bush administration eventually agreed to reach out to the two countries, but only to discuss Iraq.

Pelosi's visit to Israel is her second since she took over leadership of the House of Representatives in January and is an indication she plans to play a role in foreign policy.

Others traveling with Pelosi and Ellison included Henry Waxman and Tom Lantos of California, Louise Slaughter of New York, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, and Ohio Republican David Hobson.

[bigen58]

Another all expenses paid vacation at the expense of the tax payer.

[sprvtr]

OV442....better watch out, you're falling into the same trap as alot of the Repubs that you criticize. I thought the dems were going to do things differently. If you use W's mistakes to excuse the current speaker's behaviors then you're no better than the repubs who keep blaming Clinton for everything. Sooner or later someone needs to keep their promises and actually change things...doesn't look like "the new congress in town" is going to be the one.

[litigolfer1]

Hey, Singinrick, you sicken me. First, no religion in the history of the world has committed more murders or staged more torture sessions against those who do not convert or admit the "truth" of the religion than Christianity. Also, I am dumbfounded by your ignorance. Just because Islam does not focus on Jesus Christ as "the savior for our sins," does not lead to your "logical" conclusion "hence, it is a false religion."

I am a Jew and don't subscribe to your Christian beliefs or to those of Islam, but, unlike you, and seemingly the majority of the vocal Christians in this world, I don't proposed to have all of the answers or be able to tell anyone else that there beliefs are wrong. If I were you, I would keep my thoughts on "true religions" to myself, particularly considering the latest findings in Jerusalem and the lack of explanation about the tomb of Jesus -- how's that for knocking a big hole in the belief structure of your "true" religion (virgin birth, no marriage, no son, resurrection -- any "truths" still left in your faith?)?

Your finding a weakness in the viability of Islam as a religion solely because it does not espouse those "facts" that are so sacred and important to your religion is ignorant and arrogant, but you won't want to hear or admit that. Keep believing what others have told you your entire life and keep judging the rest of us for having another thought. If there is an afterlife, we'll see who gets to give the final "I told you so."

[ov442]

Vacation on taxpayer dime? At least she's engaging in dialogue with foriegn nations. Bush's policies sure arent doing ANything to help anyone anywhere. Might as well try.
And where were all your concerns about legislators doing their jobs or your tax money, while GWB sent Condoleeza Rice and Cheney around on AirForce 1, to Actually CAMPAIGN for him during the 2004 election cycle? Do you people have any idea how much it cost us for him to use our resources, and or Secretary of State, and VP to go around trying to drum up votes?
How about GWB spending twice as much time as your president vacationing than any other previous president in history, all while during one of the worst periods in our nations's lifetime.??!??

[hymiezoltsveis]

What the politicians call a "fact-finding mission" is what taxpayers would call a FREE vacation (at OUR expense).

Why didn't you reporter state that JEWS and CHRISTIANS are barred from the Temple Mount, where the muslims built their buildings? Why didn't the reporter mention that Ellison is associated with CAIR, a terror-sponsored enemy of the US?

I am disgusted with incomplete reporting. The muslim enemy is NOT the moral equivalent of Christianity or Judaism. WHEN was the last time that a Christian or Jew blew themself up with nail-filled bombs in a restaurant or schoolbus? (Hint---NEVER)

[sprvtr]

I think what's everyone is missing here is motive. I think this is another attempt by Speaker Pelosi to "stick it" it to Bush. I really don't believe that this is anything more than a free trip and a gotcha. I don't think this woman is stupid but I question her logic in continuing to believe that if we just talk and be nice to them they'll be nice back. These people are terrorists and want Israel wiped off the map and the US with them.

[janjac-2009]

Ms. Pelosi's job is in Washington D.C. This is her second trip to Israel since she was put in office??, on my tax dollar?? I am tired of these elected officials over stepping their jobs to vacation on my dime. I would love to see Israel but can't afford it and can't steal from my employer to get there. Stay in Washington and do your job, All of you politicians...........

[zajaimot]

NANCY'New-stinker-of-the-House'PELLOSI stated to Prez. BUSH "...there is a new CONGRESS in town"! REALLY??? Seems like the same old 'porkers' using taxpayers money like your trip suposedly to SYRIA - while you visited JERUSALEM during HOLY WEEK all on the taxpayers dime eh NANCY'too-many-facelifts'??? Speading 'our' wealth eh MS. NANCY??? Couldn't/or wouldn't 'spend' your own money eh NANCY'New-stinker-of-the-House'??? SOME 'NEW' CONGRESS!!! SAME OLD WATEFUL SPENDERS!!!

[info-gun]

http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21270952.shtml

Pelosi is just part of the controlled opposition. She ceded control forto the whitehouse for the upcoming war with Iran.

All you liberals better wake up and realize this is bigger than 'left versus right'. This is a criminal coup of the government.

Pelosi is no better than the neo-cons. She is a part of the problem...

What ever happened to impeachment?

[dmorg4]

its idiots like her and that other woman
rice that make people hate our country
they had better wise up and gets these idiots out
of our goverment

[eaglesboca]

As usual, instead of staying in Congress and tending to the people's business, MS Pelosi is over there talking with a state sponsor of terrorism, acting like like we elected her to be the proxy State Dept. She is such a total idiot. Democrat or Republican, no matter, she and those like her are complete morons..........

[lovetheusa-2009]

The Dems won...get over it people. The neoconservative experiment was tried and failed miserably. Deal with it. On to the future with optimism and faith. God bless America and Speaker Pelosi.

[lovetheusa-2009]

The Dems won...get over it people. The neoconservative experiment was tried and failed miserably. Deal with it. On to the future with optimism and faith. God bless America and Speaker Pelosi.

[dmorg4]

They better watch thier back she will stab them in the back as soon as she can.
all she wants to do is court some arabs and force Israel to give up its land which they should not give those arabs one inch only thing they should get is a ticket away from Israel
or a bullet they can take thier choice

[superpatr898]

Pelosi was asked by the White House NOT to go to a country that sponsors State Terrorism, that has tried repeatedly to de-stabilize Lebanon, that is responsible for supporting those who are killing our troops in Iraq.

Guess she's really "supporting our troops" now, isn't she?

Nothing but arrogance, stupidity and treason. But what does one expect from an idiot bimbo who probably pokes those botox-filled needles into what is left of her brain cavity?

As for you, RealNazi - the Palestinians don't want peace, except if it is a peace of the Jewish grave. Get real - you sound like a typical hack of moveon.org or the Stalinoidnazis of ANSWER. If they wanted peace they'd disarm, release Shalit, stop the Jooz hate in their classrooms, and end all terror attacks, plain and simple. They don't - and won't.

[jackd1935]

Apparently Pelosi Thinks she is something she is not. She needs to get back to Washington and call congress back in session and fund our troops like the President asks. This is the worst congress I have ever seen, and it is going to get worse, before it gets better. God help us.

[superpatr898]

randy,

well said. pelosi is only going to Damascus to betray the Lebanese Christians and to put the scr@ws on Israel to give her friends the Golan.

In short, she is only doing the bidding of the Dem Traitor's favorite Republican, Jim F the Jooz Baker, who'd sell out his mother for a barrel of Saudi crude. He's done it before. he wants to do it again, this time the traitorous botox girl is his willing stooge.

But the bozo fascists and the suurender monkeys will never bring up Baker and the Saudis. Heck, they're too busy screeching about Halliburton.

Pelosi is a traitor, plain and simple. Too bad her Hamas friends don't have the guts to get her. But why should they - she's doing just what they want.

[randycbs]

Nancy Pelosi does not understand that she is the Speaker of the House and not the President of the United States.

It takes a particularly stupid and power-hungry individual to not appreciate where the lines are draw with respect to power and authority.

But, then she is a Demon-***, after all.

[realpatriot1]

Superpat 885/898,

You call Pelosi a traitor. It's not like she outed a CIA network or traded arms for hostages or lied to go to war for the AIPAC lobby.

I noticed that your "Pro-Israel" view is that Likud are patriots and Labour apparently are traitors too. It seems that anyone working for peace is a traitor to you and anyone working for more bloodshed is a super patriot. Most of the Israelis are tolerant,the ones you imply are Israeli traitors.

[superpatr898]

Hope Bibi Netanyahu and half of the Israeli Knesset except for the Labourite, Kadima and Meretz stooges walk out when our little botox-filled traitor gets up to make another one of her nauseating, filled with lies speeches.