ISRAEL (VINnews) Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau wrote a letter Sunday to Pope Francis, urging him to retract his recent comments that seemed to compare Israel to Hamas, and insinuate that Israel has engaged in acts of terror.
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The rabbi was referring to the pope’s comments during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog last month, in which he appeared to accuse both Israel and Hamas of “terrorism”.
Pope Francis said that it is “forbidden to respond to terror with terror.”
Rabbi Lau staunchly defended Israel’s right and responsibility to protect itself, and while expressing regret over inadvertent civilian deaths, he called the pope’s comments “outrageous”.
The hebrew letter said: “I heard your statement following the attack on two women who were in the church compound in Gaza. I too am very sorry for their unnecessary deaths, as is always my sentiment on killing and death. However, I wish to respond to one comment that was made: “terror.” This statement, in reference to the occurrence, is incorrect and even outrageous.”
“The State of Israel embarked on a just war [in response to] attacks from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen that threatened the very existence of the State. Islamic terrorism, which crosses almost all borders across the world, has reached our home. The murder, rape, vandalism and abuse suffered by civilians, the incessant calls for the destruction of Israel and the abduction of hundreds of innocents into captivity, including children, women, men, and the elderly, forced upon us a war for our existence. A war for our survival. Our life. Our desire to grow our crops in peace and live with our neighbors in dignity.”
“As someone extremely well-versed in world history, you are surely aware of the suffering of the Jewish people throughout our history. The people who introduced the concept of one G-d and the values of the Torah: compassion, kindness and mercy, were forced to stand up for its existence. A tragic mistake did indeed take place–mistakenly, without intent or knowledge–that sadly resulted in the accidental death of the two women in the churchyard in Gaza. This, however, does not turn us into terrorists.”
“It was not we who initiated the attacks with the stated purpose of murdering, pillaging, humiliating and killing civilians. On the contrary, we are doing everything possible to prevent and reduce harm to civilians.”
“I apologize for feeling an inner obligation to respond to your words, but I am concerned that one of the myriad followers of the Head of the Catholic Church, who eagerly absorb your words and beliefs, , may perhaps misinterpret your words. Therefore, based on our past acquaintance and past meetings, I respectfully request you to change your description of what occurred.”
The letter concluded: “It is my prayer that peace, calm and serenity prevail in our world.”
Last week, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein of South Africa posted a video blasting the pope’s comments.
this pope has a very clear agenda, which includes grovelling before the moslem world, even at the expense of christians. this is over and above the vatican’s long-standing anti-israel stance. i predict there will be no official response to rabbi lau.
This pope is a socialist liberal from the get go. He hasn’t much condemned Christian slaughter by Muslims in Africa, hasn’t condemed China’s genocide of the Muslim Uighurs either , and conservative cardinals want to remove him for his seemingly anti religious positions .
Today’s pope is a descries
he is religious following his halacha yadua – eisav sonei es yisroel
but he does not realize he is next in line for jihad
someones you are so woke and so liberal your brains leak out
as if the vatican was so pure for hundreds of years dealing with jews
How does this Pope hold on Pedophilia? Let him clean up the sordid mess in his own backyard before pontificating to others.
Okay, now the pope should be asked about how the xtians slaughtered us Jews over the last few thousand years.
I won’t hold my breath.
This is all politics, of course. And the Zionist chief rabbi happens to be conflating the Jewish people with the Zionist pseudo-State (Zionism being the polar opposite of Judaism).