Sir Paul McCartney visits Palestinian site during Israel visit

During a lightning visit to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, Sir Paul got a mixed reaction.

Among local Palestinians there was mostly bafflement at his status. Mohammed Itmaizi, a 26-year-old policeman guarding the ancient Byzantine basilica, said he had never heard of the Beatles or Sir Paul.

But among Western tourists visiting the church, Sir Paul's visit was welcomed with gusto.

A group of Spanish women sang "Yellow Submarine" in their own tongue outside the tiny stone doorway to the church and queued for photographs and autographs.

Sir Paul, who will perform in front of a 40,000-strong crowd in Tel Aviv on Thursday night modestly shunned their cries of "you're the best".

"No, you are the best, you are better than me," he said.

The doorway into the basilica, one of the oldest places of worship in Christendom, is famously small, forcing all visitors to stoop.

"I am feeling humble," he said, as he bent down and entered the main body of the church, where the walls still carry murals painted during the Crusades.

An austere bearded Greek orthodox monk handed Sir Paul a candle before he descended into the Grotto, the subterranean chamber where Mary is believed to have delivered Jesus.

It was noticeably hotter and more sweaty in the chamber, not helped by the crush of security guards, press officers, advisers and diplomats surrounding Sir Paul, but for a brief moment they composed themselves to allow him to light the candle.

"This candle is for peace for all people all around the world, especially in Israel and Palestine," he said after lighting the taper following a brief moment of contemplation.

His American girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, wearing tight white jeans, a white sleeveless top decorated with a single large black synthetic flower, rubbed him affectionately on the shoulder before they both climbed back up to ground level.

Throughout his 15-minute tour of the holy site, Sir Paul was given a commentary from a local tour guide but he kept being interrupted by international tourists aware they had a pop star in their midst.

He handled it all graciously, posing for photographs, shaking hands and trying to say hello in their languages.

He managed it in Spanish and Italian but was flummoxed by Russian and Ukrainian and at one point while surrounded by posing Spaniards sang "come on baby light my fire".

Wearing an open-top pink shirt, cargo trousers and tennis shoes Sir Paul, who only arrived in Israel by private jet with his band in the early hours, said he was "enjoying his visit greatly" to Palestine.

When asked his attitude to those Palestinian leaders who have criticised him for agreeing to perform in Israel, breaking their call for a cultural boycott of Israel, he said he respected their view but disagreed.

"I have come here to Bethlehem deliberately to see Palestine with my own eyes," he said.

"Anyone who knows me knows I support peace for all people.

"This visit is meant to counter those that criticise me for going to Israel."


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