Aida refugee camp in the West Bank town of Bethlehem is part of the pope's tour [AFP]

The Catholic leader, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, risks controversy both over his planned visit to occupied territories and a row over the Vatican's move to beatify Pope Pius XII.

Israel has a tense relationship with the Vatican and many Jews blame the Roman Catholic Church for not speaking out against the Nazis during the second world war's Jewish Holocaust.

That tension has risen recently as the Vatican is considering Pope Pius XII - pope during the time of the Holocaust - for sainthood.

As part of his tour, the pope will meet Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, and Avigdor Lieberman, the country's right-wing foreign minister, as well as Christian, Druze, Jewish and Muslim leaders.

Benedict will also meet Palestinian political leaders.

Political pilgrimage

During his five-day tour of sacred sites, the pope is expected to offer his support and help for the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The Vatican supports a two-state solution to the conflict.

Benedict also plans to visit Palestinian refugees living close to where Jesus is said to have been born, a site in the occupied West Bank all but surrounded by Israel's separation wall.

The Vatican has said the visit to the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, to take place on Wednesday, is being made as an act of solidarity with the refugees' suffering, but it will be unpopular for some in Israel.

Understanding

The pope has been criticised for meeting Israeli leaders who supported the Gaza war [AFP]

The pope has said that he is travelling to the region as a "pilgrim" and that he will continue to advocate for inter-faith understanding, as he did in Jordan.

He also aims to encourage Christians in Palestine to stay in the territories.

Christian communities have dwindled in recent decades in the Middle East, as wars, political instability and poverty have prompted many to leave.

The overall theme of the pope's visit to the Middle East has been Christian-Muslim relations.

He addressed government officials and religious leaders in Jordan's al-Hussein mosque in Amman on Saturday, saying that both Muslims and Christians must strive to be seen as faithful worshippers of God.

High levels of security are being put in place in Israel for the visit, with large parts of Jerusalem to be shut down and air space to be closed for Benedict's arrival.

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