Israeli officials fear the pope’s vocal criticisms and symbolic gestures - such as this year’s nativity scene in St Peter’s Square featuring baby Jesus resting on a Palestinian keffiyeh - may influence global public opinion.
Created by Bethlehem artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, the nativity scene prominently features Palestinian materials, including olive wood, a symbol of Palestinian resilience.
During its unveiling, Pope Francis condemned the global arms industry for profiting from human suffering and reiterated his call for an end to all wars, urging the faithful to remember those suffering in the holy land.
The display, praised by many as a message of solidarity and peace, drew backlash from Israel’s supporters, who accused the Vatican of promoting a pro-Palestinian agenda.
“Child murderers complain that their child murdering is being called out”
The pope is Hamas!
Bethlehem was and is in Palestine.
There’s nothing that says victims can’t become aggressors. This is true for individuals as well as large groups of people, including nation-states. A child who was abused can become an abusive parent. A religious group that was persecuted for years can become an oppressor. Jews were victims of a genocide a few years ago, and were persecuted for years and years before in Europe, but Israel is not a victim anymore and the rest of the world should tell it to stop acting like one because they are the one commiting genocide.
The vatican is finally right about something, even relevant, for once. Good for them. They have a lot to make up for, and this is a start.
“If you lill them you have fun only once!”
The Pope.
Why do Israelis (well most of them) care what an old Catholic has to say?
The logic chain of the Netanyahu camp is: Keep Netanyahu out of jail -by-> Keeping him in power -by-> Creating a problem and showing he is solving it -by-> Stirring up regional instability and dragging the US into it -by-> Being belligerent and genociding as hard as possible.
Now for this to work, they need to maintain conflict while maintaining the support from the US. About 70% of the US identify as some form of Christian… and some significant percentage of them support Israel in their genocide because they believe it will bring the second coming of Jesus. But if the about 20% of Americans who identify as Catholic actually flip to being anti-genocide because their leader advocates for that, that is under threat - it potentially becomes close to a majority who are anti-genocide, and makes ongoing support from the US less likely.
They’re gonna call the pope an antisemite
Well, to be fair were all already calling him a pedophile so…
Israel’s supporters, who accused the Vatican of promoting a pro-Palestinian agenda.
What an idiotic thing for the Israelis to say. Increasingly whats needed is a new crusade by all of humanity, against Israel this time.
Against all corrupt people with power. Making a single clean spot is not how to mop a floor.
Way to tell on yourself, Israel.
