In spite of the longstanding policy of Hamas and Hezbollah, to hide their weapons and operations under schools, hospitals, mosques and other civilian areas, and many Israeli policies aimed at avoiding civilian casualties, the Holy Father declared that Israel (not Hamas or Hezbollah) should be investigated for genocide due to the high civ…
In spite of the longstanding policy of Hamas and Hezbollah, to hide their weapons and operations under schools, hospitals, mosques and other civilian areas, and many Israeli policies aimed at avoiding civilian casualties, the Holy Father declared that Israel (not Hamas or Hezbollah) should be investigated for genocide due to the high civilian casualties. He is either an influential figure publicly lobbing accusations on subjects that he is quite ignorant of, or he is knowledgeable and is unjustly attacking Israel deliberately. For Israel to challenge such statements, and to interpret other Papal statements in light of that one, is hardly unreasonable. Especially when they substantially rely on public opinion to continue existing.
However, it is absurd for Israel to make the Pope maintaining friendly relations with Iran into a problem for Israel-Vatican relations. Iran is an extremist-Muslim-run country with an endangered Catholic minority that is subject to official and unofficial persecution - that information is also readily available. If Israel objects to the Pope making an effort to protect those Catholics, *that* is problematic for Israel-Vatican relations.
I would agree with your assessment about Vatican-Iran relations if I thought the primary point was an absolute position and not a relative one. I don't think Israel would mind the Pope trying to protect Christians if he was being even-handed in his treatment of Iran and Israel. It is the contrast that is so disgusting. He kow-tows to Iran while taking every opportunity to blame Israel for cruelty, while simultaneously ignoring the hostages and use of human shields.
I do not believe Israel would have made that objection had the Pope's former statements respecting Israel been reasonable.
I don't think it's a relative thing though, where they object to how differently he treats them compared to Iran. Israel is a big boy, it knows international pressures are never even-handed. But on an absolute scale, taken by itself, what he said regarding Israel needing to be investigated for genocide was astonishingly unjust.
In spite of the longstanding policy of Hamas and Hezbollah, to hide their weapons and operations under schools, hospitals, mosques and other civilian areas, and many Israeli policies aimed at avoiding civilian casualties, the Holy Father declared that Israel (not Hamas or Hezbollah) should be investigated for genocide due to the high civilian casualties. He is either an influential figure publicly lobbing accusations on subjects that he is quite ignorant of, or he is knowledgeable and is unjustly attacking Israel deliberately. For Israel to challenge such statements, and to interpret other Papal statements in light of that one, is hardly unreasonable. Especially when they substantially rely on public opinion to continue existing.
However, it is absurd for Israel to make the Pope maintaining friendly relations with Iran into a problem for Israel-Vatican relations. Iran is an extremist-Muslim-run country with an endangered Catholic minority that is subject to official and unofficial persecution - that information is also readily available. If Israel objects to the Pope making an effort to protect those Catholics, *that* is problematic for Israel-Vatican relations.
I would agree with your assessment about Vatican-Iran relations if I thought the primary point was an absolute position and not a relative one. I don't think Israel would mind the Pope trying to protect Christians if he was being even-handed in his treatment of Iran and Israel. It is the contrast that is so disgusting. He kow-tows to Iran while taking every opportunity to blame Israel for cruelty, while simultaneously ignoring the hostages and use of human shields.
I do not believe Israel would have made that objection had the Pope's former statements respecting Israel been reasonable.
I don't think it's a relative thing though, where they object to how differently he treats them compared to Iran. Israel is a big boy, it knows international pressures are never even-handed. But on an absolute scale, taken by itself, what he said regarding Israel needing to be investigated for genocide was astonishingly unjust.