Israel shares, then deletes, condolences over pope's death
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ASPartOfMe
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Quote:
The Israeli government shared and then deleted a social media post offering condolences over the death of Pope Francis, without saying why, though an Israeli newspaper linked the decision to the late pontiff's criticism of the war in Gaza.
The verified @Israel account had posted on Monday a message on social media platform X that read: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing", alongside an image of the pope visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post quoted officials at the foreign ministry as saying that the pope had made "statements against Israel" and that the social media post had been published in "error".
The foreign ministry, which social media platform X states on its website is linked to the verified @Israel account, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, suggested last November that the global community should study whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, in some of his most explicit criticism yet of Israel's conduct in its war with Hamas that began in Oct. 2023.
In January the pope also called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "shameful", prompting criticism from Rome's chief Jewish rabbi who accused Francis of "selective indignation".
However, Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday sent a message of condolence to Christians in the Holy Land and around the world, describing Francis as "a man of deep faith and boundless compassion".
Relations between the Catholic Church and Judaism have improved in recent decades, after centuries of animosity.
Pope Francis was usually careful during his 12-year pontificate about taking sides in conflicts, and he condemned the growth of antisemitic groups, while also speaking by phone with Gaza's tiny Christian community every evening during the war.
Francis in 2014 visited the Western Wall - the most sacred prayer site in Judaism - and also prayed at a section of a wall built by Israel in the occupied West Bank dividing Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The verified @Israel account had posted on Monday a message on social media platform X that read: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing", alongside an image of the pope visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post quoted officials at the foreign ministry as saying that the pope had made "statements against Israel" and that the social media post had been published in "error".
The foreign ministry, which social media platform X states on its website is linked to the verified @Israel account, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, suggested last November that the global community should study whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, in some of his most explicit criticism yet of Israel's conduct in its war with Hamas that began in Oct. 2023.
In January the pope also called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "shameful", prompting criticism from Rome's chief Jewish rabbi who accused Francis of "selective indignation".
However, Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday sent a message of condolence to Christians in the Holy Land and around the world, describing Francis as "a man of deep faith and boundless compassion".
Relations between the Catholic Church and Judaism have improved in recent decades, after centuries of animosity.
Pope Francis was usually careful during his 12-year pontificate about taking sides in conflicts, and he condemned the growth of antisemitic groups, while also speaking by phone with Gaza's tiny Christian community every evening during the war.
Francis in 2014 visited the Western Wall - the most sacred prayer site in Judaism - and also prayed at a section of a wall built by Israel in the occupied West Bank dividing Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
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ASPartOfMe
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Christians in Israel slam Netanyahu's 'disrespectful' response to Pope's death
Quote:
Christians in Israel have expressed outrage over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the death of Pope Francis, formally delivering a letter of protest on Friday.
The letter, sent by The Forum of Christians in the Holy Land on behalf of the organization and "hundreds of Christian citizens of Israel," voiced concern and anger over the Foreign Ministry’s decision not to issue an official expression of sorrow following the pope’s death.
The writers described the decision as "disrespectful to Christians in Israel and around the world" and emphasized the Christian community’s contributions to Israeli society in areas such as medicine, education, academia, technology, public service, and culture. The forum stressed the importance of preserving the community’s status and supporting its role in Israeli life.
Concerns over police behavior
The letter also raised concerns over recent incidents at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where, according to the writers, Israeli police "again prevented access to Christian worshipers during the Holy Fire ceremony," known locally as "Saturday of Light," held on the Saturday before Easter. Thousands of Christians from Israel and around the world attend the annual event.
The writers demanded "an official statement of mourning following the pope’s death," as well as "an investigation into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre events and an apology for the police’s conduct," and called for "recognition of and support for the contribution of Christian institutions to the country."
The letter, signed by Wadie Abu Nassar, coordinator of the forum, stressed "the need to preserve mutual respect and trust between the government and the Christian population in Israel" and urged "immediate action to remedy the harm caused." Copies were sent to the foreign minister and to senior church leaders in Israel.
The Foreign Ministry responded that it had expressed its condolences to the Vatican.
"The State of Israel expressed sorrow over the death of the pope and immediately after his death sent condolences to his followers. Condolence messages were published both by the president and by the prime minister," a statement from the ministry read.
"Israeli ambassadors around the world signed the condolence books opened by the Vatican worldwide and tweeted their condolences. Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican arrived last Wednesday to pass before the pope’s coffin and pay final respects, and tweets on the subject were posted on all of the Foreign Ministry’s official accounts. Israel will participate in the pope’s funeral and will be officially represented by Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican."
The letter, sent by The Forum of Christians in the Holy Land on behalf of the organization and "hundreds of Christian citizens of Israel," voiced concern and anger over the Foreign Ministry’s decision not to issue an official expression of sorrow following the pope’s death.
The writers described the decision as "disrespectful to Christians in Israel and around the world" and emphasized the Christian community’s contributions to Israeli society in areas such as medicine, education, academia, technology, public service, and culture. The forum stressed the importance of preserving the community’s status and supporting its role in Israeli life.
Concerns over police behavior
The letter also raised concerns over recent incidents at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where, according to the writers, Israeli police "again prevented access to Christian worshipers during the Holy Fire ceremony," known locally as "Saturday of Light," held on the Saturday before Easter. Thousands of Christians from Israel and around the world attend the annual event.
The writers demanded "an official statement of mourning following the pope’s death," as well as "an investigation into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre events and an apology for the police’s conduct," and called for "recognition of and support for the contribution of Christian institutions to the country."
The letter, signed by Wadie Abu Nassar, coordinator of the forum, stressed "the need to preserve mutual respect and trust between the government and the Christian population in Israel" and urged "immediate action to remedy the harm caused." Copies were sent to the foreign minister and to senior church leaders in Israel.
The Foreign Ministry responded that it had expressed its condolences to the Vatican.
"The State of Israel expressed sorrow over the death of the pope and immediately after his death sent condolences to his followers. Condolence messages were published both by the president and by the prime minister," a statement from the ministry read.
"Israeli ambassadors around the world signed the condolence books opened by the Vatican worldwide and tweeted their condolences. Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican arrived last Wednesday to pass before the pope’s coffin and pay final respects, and tweets on the subject were posted on all of the Foreign Ministry’s official accounts. Israel will participate in the pope’s funeral and will be officially represented by Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican."
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
RetroGamer87
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