Vatican and Israel exchange angry words on terrorism - 30-Jul-05 - Generational Dynamics

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Jul-05

Vatican and Israel exchange angry words on terrorism

Some Jews are pointedly recalling that the new Pope used to be in the Hitler youth.

On Sunday, the day after the massive bombing at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Pope Benedict XVI issued the following statement:

"The days of serenity and rest have been upset by the news of the abominable terrorist attacks, the death, destruction and widespread suffering in Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Great Britain. While we entrust to God the victims and their families, and offer heartfelt condolences, we ask God to stay the murderous hand of those who are driven by fanaticism and hatred, and may He convert their hearts to thoughts of reconciliation and peace."

So what's the problem? The problem was that Israel wasn't mentioned in the list of countries targeted by terrorism, especially in view of of a July 12 suicide bombing against Israelis in the coastal city of Netanya.

When the Israeli Foreign Ministry complained that Benedict "deliberately" omitted the Netanya bombing, a Vatican press statement said,

"It's not always possible to immediately follow every attack against Israel with a public statement of condemnation, and for various reasons, among them the fact that the attacks against Israel sometimes were followed by immediate Israeli reactions not always compatible with the rules of international law. It would thus be impossible to condemn the first (the terror strikes) and let the second (Israeli retaliation) pass in silence."

Let's face it: The Jews and the Catholics have never really gotten along, and it was only in 1994 that the Vatican recognized the state of Israel. Still, diplomats on both sides have been trying to calm the waters, and it's not known at this time whether this spat will settle down or spiral into a major confrontation.

From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, a major confrontation would be highly significant.

As we've indicated several times on this web site, Europe is descending into chaos and heading for a new major war, just as it has time after time for centuries. What we've been seeing in the step-by-step collapse of European Union on the road to war, as part of the major "clash of civilizations" world war.

A possible scenario for such a European war may be as follows: When there's a new Mideast war, it seems pretty clear that Britain will side with Israel, and France will side with the Arabs. With France supplying arms to Arabs, it won't be long before British and American bombers are bombing French factories and supply lines, and the French are making strategic strikes on England.

A split between the Vatican and Israel will be quite consistent with the above scenario, as a Catholic France sides with Arabs, and a Protestant England sides with Israel.

The split does not shed light on which side Germany will choose, however; Benedict is German, of course, but Germany is mostly Protestant.

This situation at least marks a change in tone in the Vatican, since the ascension of Pope Benedict XVI.

The Inquisition was created in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX as a means to curb heresy, and especially targeted Jews and Muslims. It was just a little over a year ago, on June 15, 2004, that Pope John Paul II, before his death, asked forgiveness "for errors committed in the service of truth." He added that the request for forgiveness was for "both the dramas connected to the Inquisition as well as for the wounds to the [collective] memory that followed." (30-Jul-05) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Jul-05 Vatican and Israel exchange angry words on terrorism

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Jul-05
Vatican and Israel exchange angry words on terrorism