Peres Says Pope Considering Israel Visit
By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press
Thursday, April 6, 2006; 3:29 PM

ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI is considering visiting Israel in the first part of 2007, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Thursday after meeting the pontiff at the Vatican.

"He indicated that he may do it in the first part of next year," Peres told a news conference after renewing an invitation first made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last year.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls confirmed the invitation had been extended but gave no details on the pope's response.

Peres said he did not think a dispute between the Vatican and Israel over taxation of church properties would stop a papal visit. Some analysts have suggested the pope might not make the trip until the issues are worked out. The rest