Mccartney Visits Jesus' Birthplace

The former Beatle is in Israel for a peace concert on Thursday night (25Sep08) - and insisted on visiting the Church of the Nativity, which was built over the traditional birthplace of Christ in the fourth century.

MCCartney took photos and lit two white candles "for peace."

The rocker told reporters that he hoped his visit to the West Bank would appease non-Jewish critics, who have opposed MCCartney's peace concert plans in Tel Aviv.

He said, "I'm here to highlight the situation and to say that what we need is peace in this region, a two-state solution.

"I get criticised everywhere I go, but I don't listen to them (critics). I'm bringing a message of peace, and I think that's what the region needs."