Israeli, Palestinian leaders accept Vatican invite

TEL AVIV — Pope Francis has landed at Israel's international airport, kicking off the final leg of his Holy Land pilgrimage.

Francis was greeted with an honor guard yesterday, and the country's top officials lined up to shake his hand as he walked along a red carpet.

Israel's president, Shimon Peres, thanked Francis for his strong stand against anti-Semitism and noted the visit came a day after a deadly shooting at a Jewish center in Brussels.

"You carry a message of brotherhood among peoples, and friendship for all," Peres said.

Francis arrived from the West Bank town of Bethlehem, where earlier yesterday he voiced strong sympathy for the Palestinians.