Unfair solutions in Mideast prelude to new crises: Pope

ROME

Pope Francis on Sunday warned against "unfair solutions" to the conflict between Palestine and Israel, during a speech on his visit to the southern Bari province of Italy.

The pope also referred to the threats to the Mediterranean region, Middle East, different countries of North Africa and between various ethnic, or religious groups.

"Nor can we overlook the still unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with the danger of inequitable solutions, and, hence, a prelude to new crises," he said.

His remarks reminded the so-called peace plan of the U.S. for the Middle East declared by President Donald Trump with the claim of solving the conflict in the region.

On Jan. 28, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the controversial “Deal of the Century” to end one of the longest-running disputes in the Middle East.

In the plan, Trump proposes a patchwork Palestinian state, boxed in by illegal Israeli settlements, as well as recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital."

The so-called peace plan unilaterally annuls previous UN resolutions on the Palestinian issue and suggests giving Israel almost everything it demanded.

Turkey has slammed it as an effort to "justify Israeli occupation and annexation of Jerusalem and the West Bank."

The EU does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over territories it has occupied since 1967.