London
(ANI):
Former
Beatle
Sir
Paul
McCartney
has
paid
a
visit
to
the
West
Bank
town
of
Bethlehem,
a
day
before
his
concert
in
Tel
Aviv,
Israel.
On
September
24,
the
veteran
singer
visited
the
Church
of
Nativity
in
the
West
Bank
town
of
Bethlehem,
which
is
believed
to
be
the
birthplace
of
Christ.
The
66-year-old
star
was
welcomed
with
gusto.
A
group
of
Spanish
women
sang
"Yellow
Submarine" in
their
own
language
outside
the
tiny
stone
doorway
to
the
church
and
queued
for
photographs
and
autographs.
"I
am
feeling
humble,"
Telegraph
quoted
him,
as
saying.
McCartney
also
lighted
a
candle,
insisting
that
he
was
carrying
a
message
of
peace
for
the
country.
"This
candle
is
for
peace
for
all
people
all
around
the
world,
especially
in
Israel
and
Palestine,"
he
said.
He
also
visited
the
Grotto,
the
subterranean
chamber
where
Mary
is
believed
to
have
delivered
Jesus.
McCartney
was
accompanied
by
his
American
girlfriend
Nancy
Shevell.
When
asked
his
reaction
to
the
Palestinian
leaders
panning
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,"
he
added.