Chinese FM visits Western Wall, Church of the Nativity

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday visited important Jewish and Christian holy sites as part of his visit to Israel. Jiechi visited the Western Wall on Friday morning and placed his hands against the stones of the 2,000-year-old wall as a rabbi recited a Hebrew prayer. The Chinese envoy then traveled to Bethlehem and visited the Church of the Nativity, traditionally marking the place where Jesus was born. He was greeted by the town's mayor and lit a candle in the church. Earlier in the week he met Israeli and Palestinian leaders and pledged China will help promote "a fair and balanced solution" in the Mideast.