This is tantamount to granting the moral authority of the Pope to “Palestinian” jihad propaganda. You can see in the photo below that the Pope was praying right in front a graffiti also saying that the security barrier was an “apartheid wall.” To compare Israel to apartheid South Africa is a monstrous piece of disinformation, as a black South African explains here.
The Pope is doing a grave disservice to free people and aiding and abetting the genocidal jihad against Israel. The damage resulting from his trip is impossible to calculate at this point, but it could be immense.
“Pope chooses to pray in front of large graffiti comparing Bethlehem to the Warsaw Ghetto,” by Tom Gross, May 25, 2014:
THE POPE, PALESTINE AND THE HOLOCAUST
Many Western media outlets have today highlighted the fact that the pope began his Middle East tour by praying at the small section of Israel’s security barrier that is actually a wall; the rest of the protective barrier is wire-mesh. (The security barrier, which has saved countless lives, was built to protect Israelis after some 1000 civilians were killed by suicide bombers.)
But none of the Western media I have seen have drawn attention to the exact spot that the Pope chose to pray: in front of large graffiti comparing Bethlehem to the Warsaw Ghetto.
The photo above is from the main EU-funded Palestinian media outlet, the Maan news agency….
A few comments:
(1) Comparing Israel with Nazi Germany forms part of the working definition of anti-Semitism formulated by the EU and others. Only yesterday, Israel’s prime minister was among those to point out that the atmosphere of incitement against Israel was a probable contributing factor in attacks such as the one in which four Jews (two Israeli tourists and a French woman, and a young Belgian man working at the museum) were shot dead at the Jewish museum in Brussels yesterday. Two other Jews were attacked and struck with metal objects outside a Paris synagogue last night, just hours after the Brussels shooting.
(2) Bethlehem is a relatively prosperous town where restaurants and juice bars are packed, and BMWs, Mercedes and Humvees compete for parking spaces in the center or town. By contrast, 400,000 Jews were herded into the Warsaw Ghetto and those who weren’t beaten or starved to death there, were taken to be exterminated at nearby camps.
(Yes, there is of course a political problem between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and one day, one hopes, the security barrier can be removed without its removal leading to increased terrorism, but this has nothing to do with the Warsaw Ghetto. One wonders why the Pope’s Vatican handlers were eager to choose that spot – or are so insensitive as to allow the Palestinian Authority to guide the Pontiff to that spot.)
(3) The Pope represents an organization, the Vatican, which even today, after seven decades of repeated appeals, is still refusing to make public its wartime archives detailing the full extent of its collaboration with the Nazis before, during and after the Holocaust.
What is known is that the Vatican helped several leading Nazi war criminals escape after the war, including Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele (responsible for barbaric experiments without anesthetic on children) and Holocaust mastermind Adolf Eichmann, who were granted safe refuge in the Pope’s hometown of Buenos Aires, with the aid of the Catholic Church in Rome and in Argentina. (Ten years later Mengele moved to Brazil, joined by other leading Nazis who escaped with the aid of the Vatican, such as Franz Stangl, the commandant of the Sobibor and Treblinka extermination camps.)
(4) There is also concern in Israel that the Pope called Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas a “man of peace” today at an event where Abbas, in the Pope’s presence, repeated his demand that any Palestinian who murders an Israeli must not be punished at all.
Yeah, Abbas is a “man of peace” in the same way that “authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.”

Guy Macher says
I’m as disappointed as anyone by Pope Francis and his anti-free market ranting but I think his praying before the defaced wall is similar to praying at Auschwitz amid the symbols of Nazism; it honors Jesus, it reaches out to Jews, it warns the barbarians that the love of God prevails.
Silvia says
You are despicable making that comparison. The Jews were murdered because they were Jews! They didn’t kill anyone, they didn’t try to force their religion on anybody – they just wanted to be like everybody else and got slaughtered for it.
That wall was built TO SAVE LIVES!!! That wall was built after these animals murdered 1500 Jews in every which way and wounded ten’s of thousands! Furthermore, the Jews were locked liked animals, left to die, murdering whatever was left of them afterwards. The people of Bethlehem can get out whenever they want. True, there are checkpoints and it’s not that easy but they are not in jail and those checkpoints exist because of their murderousness.
But it’s good that you’re “disappointed” about economics. I wonder why you are not “disappointed” why this esteemed pope didn’t ask the holocaust denier he called “man of peace”, how come when the Jews controlled the city for decades, the % of Christians in Bethlehem was 90% (when there was no wall) and now under muslim rule it’s about 30% and dropping? As it does in Gaza and the west bank and every other muslim hole in the ME?
I wonder why you are not “disappointed” that this pope (and the previous one) says and does nothing about the Genocide the muslims are committing on Christians allover the ME under muslim rule?
I guess you consider being a silent bystander to the annihilation of your flock, “honoring Jesus”.
ian says
I think Francis will soon support reparations from Italian Jews who forcibly displaced thousands of poor Italian Catholics when they built their luxurious ghetto in 16th century Venice.
Diane Harvey says
With each passing month I get more and more unsettling feelings about this Pope.
He does remember that Christianity grew out of Judaism, doesn’t he? Well, doesn’t he?
Ian says
Diana do not forget the concept of “replacement theology.’ It is what keeps Catholicism on shaky grounds of the truth and the primary reason for church-lead anti-Semitism.
Wellington says
Pope Francis is increasingly an embarrassment to all knowledgeable and informed Catholics.
Any Catholic wish to counter me here?
Please, give it a shot.
Jacob Rubio says
How could anyone challenge you if you’re not making a point. All you did was make a negative statement. Make a common sense argument for your attack and I’ll be glad to challenge you
Larry S says
Jacob,
My sense is you are expecting a higher level of conversation than is typical on these boards. Wellington’s challenge is not a frivolous one.
I think this article sheds some light on the pope’s ill-advised photo-op. He got taken in by true master’s of deception:
http://www.jpost.com/Elections-2013/Jlem-PA-put-huge-pressure-on-pope-to-visit-security-barrier-354352
Beth says
Larry – is it wrong to expect that the leader of Christianity (or supposedly is) would do such a foolish thing? Is he not supposed to know better? And if he is this blind – then what of all the sheep that are following him?
I find offense with those who are trying to defend his act here.
Beth says
I’m sorry Larry – I meant to address my comment to Jacob Rubio.
Please accept my apology.
Beth
p.s.
Wake up Jacob.
Beth says
Larry….I believe you are wide awake – and have come forth to put up a good fight – a worthy fight. I’m grateful to you for this – for the future for my children.
I have a high respect for your comments. I just wanted you to know that.
Sincerely,
Beth
Wellington says
For starters, Jacob Rubio, Pope Francis doesn’t “get” Islam and he doesn’t “get” capitalism. Your turn.
Beth says
Wellington – you could not be more correct – in your statement.
He is an embarrassment – but only to all those who really care about the truth.
thomas_h says
Nope, dear Wellington. This time I won’t oblige.
Wellington says
Pray tell why, thomas_h.
thomas_h says
You ask : “Any Catholic wish to counter me here? Please, give it a shot.”
Why Wellington, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I would have shot myself.
CogitoErgoSum says
Well, Wellington. I might be able to try but my heart would not be in it. I can only hope the Pope was not also facing Mecca when he did this. My immediate thought when I saw the picture went to the some certain verses in the Bible. For those who hate it when verses are quoted from the Bible, I’ll just post a link below. Click on it if you like…….or ignore it.
By the way, I would interpret the verses to include churches, temples and mosques…as well as street corners and synagogues.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A5-6&version=NRSVCE
Wellington says
Take heart, Cogito Ergo Sum, since the papal office has always been greater than the man, any quote from Matthew notwithstanding. Still, the guy makes me nostalgic-like for his predecessor. I’m not a Catholic, but one need not be to prefer Benedict to Francis. Not even a close call I would argue.
Beth says
I’m not a catholic either – but, I am a Christian:
Isa 34:16
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail
That’s all I need – to achieve eternal life.
As for the rest of that Script:
none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
The mate is the New Comforter:
Jhn 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And that which the Spirit gathers – are new stones:
1Pe 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
There is a time to gather stones – and there is time to cast them away.
Thus…explaining the meaning of the Scripts – for all those who really care.
And now is the time to know these things.
Champ says
Now I understand why some refer to this pope as an antipope …
Wellington says
If only, Champ.
Champ says
lol!! …yeah it would be nice is he just went ‘bye-bye’ 😀
citycat says
The Antirope, now that is a very funny book
citycat says
This is the way to deal with Islam, total distance from what one may have considered normality.
Extreme ways for extreme days
dumbledoresarmy says
He would have done better, before going to Israel, to have invited Bat Yeor and Magdi Cristiano Allam to visit him in the Vatican. He could have read Magdi Allam’s book “Viva Israele” – “Long Live Israel” – and Bat Yeor’s “The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians Under Islam”, or a few of her essays on the heresy that is “Palestinianism”. And if he hasn’t read “Eurabia” and Oriana Fallaci’s two books “The Rage and the Pride” and “The Force of Reason”, he damn well *should*.
This whole story makes me – as a practising, professing Christian who has come to *like* and to *love* the Jewish people – and their embattled, life-affirming little state – ever more and more, the better I have got to know them and their history and their culture – feel very very angry; it also makes me feel sick to my stomach, to see a prominent Christian leader, though of a tradition different from my own, behaving in such a stupid and destructive manner.
NO sane person would call that creepy mohammedthug Mahmoud Abbas a man of peace! That is a nonsense; and worse than a nonsense, it is an open falsehood, a reversal of reality, and the grossest and most fawning of flatteries. It belongs in that vile pit in the lower reaches of the Inferno where, in Dante’s pictorial diagram of the nature of Evil, the processes of corruption of the city and of the soul, the flatterers sit with sh*t pouring out of their mouths.
citycat says
Now that what i CALL verberjuice, Dumbledoresarmy
citycat says
Verbajuice means good stuff
The Levite says
http://www.israellycool.com/2014/05/25/media-fall-for-cheap-palestinian-pope-photo-op/
David, Thailand says
I’m amazed he wasn’t wearing a kefiyah.
Tommo says
The Pope has fallen in behind the Anglican churches protest of the ‘Bethlehem apartheid wall’ which caused so much anger in the UK last year and was described as a political stunt then only to be compounded by the Marxist Pope today.
Beth says
Moses condemned Palestine in a prophecy. So did Isaiah and Joel. The command is – to speak the truth – before all.
Exd 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. (This is in the song of Moses and the saints ‘sing’ it – Rev 15:3)
Joe 3:4 Yea, and what have ye to do with Me, … Palestine?
Isa 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
This catholic leader (he’s not my pope – means papa in itilian – my Pope is in heaven – as the Scriptures say Mat 23:9)..he has never spoken the prophecy that moses gave. The Vatican is supposed to be speaking the prophecies that the prophets of the Lord gave. When do they plan on doing so? ever?
For the record:
Hebrew Lexicon….
Pelishtiy: Translation = Philistine
Pelesheth: Translation = Palestine
Beth says
The King James Bible, the Geneva Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered in 1947) have the name Pelesheth (Palestine). All newer Bibles mistranslated the name to Philistine.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are the absolute proof that it’s Palestine.
That city has already been condemned. Why would any Christian leader support it? Do they not fear the Lord?
Silvia says
Same difference.
Plishtim = Pleshet. The Plishtim who lived in Pleshet (the sea strip on the Mediterranean -> Western side of Israel. They were of Greek descent and they fought with the Jews continuously. They had nothing to do with the Semites and certainly not with the Arabs. The Romans called Israel “Palestina” as an insult to the Jews.
Beth says
1Ti 1:18
¶ {Key Scripture)
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy (and to every Christian), according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare
Beth says
“Same difference”
No it’s not.
A Philistine – is a race.
Palestine is a name.
And Palestine wants the blessings that were given to the name Israel.
Silvia says
“A Philistine – is a race”
A Philistine isn’t a “race”, it’s the name of a people! The original name which appears in the bible is “Plishtim”. Just like you’d say “The English”, “The French” etc.
Palestine is a name of a country/territory which refers to Ancient Israel and which the Romans chose to give Israel as an Insult to the Jews after the Jewish rebellion and instead of Judea.
Do you understand now?
Beth says
“Palestine is a name of a country/territory which refers to Ancient Israel”
Give the evidence of that. (there is none) Unless you quote some professor of these times (which doesn’t count).
Goliath was a philistine.
Understand now?
Silvia says
http://www.levitt.com/essays/palestine.html
And you’d be wise not to try and teach me Hebrew because I know the language and read the bible in Hebrew. I understand better than you what these words mean.
Understand now?
Beth says
I rest my case.
Beth says
Notice- they did not give the evidence asked for. They just spouted about how much more smarter they are. And then, expect all readers to believe that they are – without the evidence.
Beth says
Let me remind you Silvia…’O expert of the Hebrew text’….
Exd 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. (This is in the song of Moses; This is the song that the saints ‘sing’ it – Rev 15:3)
Joe 3:4 Yea, and what have ye to do with Me, … Palestine?
Isa 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone – in his appointed times.
Silvia says
You are being ridiculous. In an attempt to prove how “right” you are, you constantly give me TRANSLATED quotes from the bible when I’m trying to explain to you that the ORIGINAL is somewhat different, that the translation distorts to a point the original meaning.
And WTH are you trying to prove with Goliath? What exactly is your claim? Are you trying to claim that the Plishtim exited while Israel existed? Nobody’s denying that. What’s your point?
Beth says
My point:
No Christian leader (of this world) has ever ‘sung’ the song of Moses. And according to Revelations – the saints sing the song of Moses. This song is an important song. It condemns Palestine for end times. When considering how great this ancient prophecy is (because it concerns a massive issue – involving the whole world) – it has the power to put a stop Islam. It has the power to expose the false prophet of Islam. Why is it – you can’t see that? (or is it because you don’t want to?)
And it does not matter who gave the name to the Arabs. Moses is the very first person to speak of it. And what he had to say about it is more important.
There is a war of words taking place – and an army to come forward denying that Moses condemned Palestine, but rather, Philistine. There is no such place in the Bible. There is no record of it.
The greatest prophecy of all time – for our time – and the oldest – has the power to wake the sleeping sheep. And it has the power to take Islam down. It only needs a voice. Shame on the Christian leaders for not ‘singing’ the song of Moses. I have to ask – if they’re not singing it – then are they saints?
Rev 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
If you’re a Christian – and you’re not speaking the prophecy that Moses gave – are you a Christian then?
And if you’re not a Christian – this prophecy does not concern you. But it does concern every Christian. And foee this world – andin these times – this is big news.
See my point?
Palestine stands condemned – by the greatest prophets of God. And the Christian world needs to be made aware of it.
Shame on the Christian leaders for not doing so.
Michele Henson says
THIS IS DESPICABLE!!!
Shame on Pope Francis!
These politicians, and I consider the Pope to be one,
Learn half-ass history & then act as the moral authority!
This makes me I’ll on Memorial Day!
I will focus on our fallen soldiers today!
Although I’m sure this growing socialist monstrosity called America right now is NOT what they fought for!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
Beth says
+ 1
Elisheva14 says
The Pope’s position is very much like Obama’s, Kerry and many other deceivers. It is very upsetting to us who know that these words are falsehoods. If Abbas is a man of Peace and Israel is the face of evil we are all doomed to a horror show. I guess black is now white and courage is cowardice. Good is evil and the word is full of lies.
Beth says
Jas 4:4
….know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
But…the good news is…
Jhn 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(“might” being the key word in that Scripture)
mark says
If the pope is the great vicar like Roman Catholics think he is, then why are his prayers for peace not answered? Is he not so close to God to know God’s will and to know what prayers will be heard? Pope, your Hail Marys are blasphemous and will do more harm than good. Go home and mind your basilica.
voegelinian says
Tom Gross’s #3 is not helpful; not at all.
Wellington says
Ah, thomas_h, now I understand my across-the-pond, Catholic friend. From your initial post, I thought I had missed something and, of course, would never mind being educated on sundry subjects (as you did a while ago for me on Galileo) by such an erudite fellow beer drinker as yourself.
I suspect, like me, you long for the good sense, courage and knowledge of a Benedict. Well, the papacy, an institution for which I have the greatest respect, has been occupied by greater and lesser men (what else could have occured?). What now I would contend is that it’s occupied by a lesser man (though not a bad man, just lesser). Well, I have no doubt it will eventually be occupied by another great man.
Let’s raise a beer then, the two of us, one a theist and the other an agnostic, to a truly great man coming into the possession of a truly great institution yet again. Hopefully sooner, of course, rather than later.
Always good to communicate with such a sage person as yourself, thomas_h. May your beer drinking days this Summer be memorable ones.
John C. Barile says
Very good, Wellington, The prudential (not doctrinal) judgments of this pope are far from prudent; they’re abysmally imprudent.
Wellington says
Yes, John C., I often catch myself thinking what in the hell is Francis thinking.
thomas_h says
Wellington, my friend. You seem to be more optimistic about the future of the Church than I. For a Catholic like myself to hear it coming from a agnostic is both heartening and embarrassing. I’m going to avail myself of your faith.
I’m glad to hear you have such respect for Benedict XVI. An exceptional man endowed with subtle and profound mind yet full of unaffected humility. But I’ll let history pronounce a verdict on the quality of his leadership.
“Erudite beer drinker”. I laughed heartily reading that and rushed to read it to my lady who confirmed that my beer drinking is quite erudite. Regarding my being a sage person she had serious reservations, but thinks you are too kind. And so do I.
May this Summer grant you too many occasions of memorable beer relish. Skaal, my friend across the Pond – it’s time for me to hit the hay.
Wellington says
Skaal indeed, my friend. And best to your lady, respecting whom I suspect is your better half as my lady (and wife of fifteen years) is mine.
Good night, my friend, and may you have dreams of the finest kind.