• Britain's Prince Charles during a visit at the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem. EPA
    Britain's Prince Charles during a visit at the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem. EPA
  • A view of Prince Charles' signature on a book as visits the Mosque of Omar. Getty Images
    A view of Prince Charles' signature on a book as visits the Mosque of Omar. Getty Images
  • Prince Charles, center left, is presented a document as he visits the Mosque of Omar. AP Photo
    Prince Charles, center left, is presented a document as he visits the Mosque of Omar. AP Photo
  • Prince Charles during a visit at the Mosque of Omar. EPA
    Prince Charles during a visit at the Mosque of Omar. EPA
  • Prince Charles speaks with Muslim clerics during his visit to Omar mosque. AFP
    Prince Charles speaks with Muslim clerics during his visit to Omar mosque. AFP
  • Prince Charles visits the Mosque of Omar. AP Photo
    Prince Charles visits the Mosque of Omar. AP Photo
  • Prince Charles shelters from the rain as he walks through Manger Square in Bethlehem. EPA
    Prince Charles shelters from the rain as he walks through Manger Square in Bethlehem. EPA
  • People walk down a street lined with the Union Flag in anticipation of the arrival of Prince Charles for a visit to the Mosque of Omar. EPA
    People walk down a street lined with the Union Flag in anticipation of the arrival of Prince Charles for a visit to the Mosque of Omar. EPA
  • Prince Charles visits the compound of the Church of the Nativity. AFP
    Prince Charles visits the compound of the Church of the Nativity. AFP
  • Prince Charles walks with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, during a visit to the Church of the Nativity. AP Photo
    Prince Charles walks with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, during a visit to the Church of the Nativity. AP Photo
  • Prince Charles stands next to Theophilos III during a visit to the Church of the Nativity. Reuters
    Prince Charles stands next to Theophilos III during a visit to the Church of the Nativity. Reuters
  • Prince Charles visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. EPA
    Prince Charles visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. EPA

Britain’s Prince Charles hails 'warmth of Palestinian people' during West Bank visit


Claire Corkery
  • English
  • Arabic

Britain’s Prince Charles has praised "the warmth of the Palestinian people" during a visit to the West Bank on Friday.

The heir to the British throne was pictured shaking hands with bystanders in Bethlehem before heading into the historic Mosque of Omar.

The Mayor of Bethlehem Anton Salman greeted Charles at the mosque, where the prince signed his name in Arabic in a visitor book. Charles also attended a service at the Church of the Nativity, where he was accompanied by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.

Charles is on the second day of a two-day trip to the region, having spent Thursday in Jerusalem at an event to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz.

The 71-year-old addressed the World Holocaust Forum, which was attended by more than 40 heads of state and government. He warned that "the lessons of the Holocaust are still relevant to this day".

Charles is the most senior British royal to visit Palestine. His son Prince William visited the West Bank in June 2018, the first official visit of a British royal to the occupied Palestinian territories.