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Vatican, Israel Scrap Over Gaza Remark

Cleric defends calling Palestinian enclave 'concentration camp'

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 8, 2009 12:51 PM CST

(Newser) – Israel slammed a Vatican official today for calling Gaza “a big concentration camp,” Reuters reports. Israel denounced the comparison by Cardinal Renato Martino as “the vocabulary of Hamas propaganda.” “We are astounded to hear from a spiritual dignitary words that are so far removed from truth and dignity,” said a spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry.

Martino, however, defended his remarks: Gazans “are surrounded by a wall that is difficult to breach, in conditions that go against human dignity," he told Italy’s La Repubblica. Meanwhile, Pope Benedict gave his “state of the world” speech to diplomats at the Vatican, taking both sides to task: “Violence, wherever it comes from and whatever form it takes, must be firmly condemned.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Pope Benedict XVI during the traditional speech to the Holy See's diplomatic corps, at the Vatican, Thursday, Jan 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Epiphany mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Tuesday. (AP Photo)

Cardinal Renato Martino, here in a 2005 file photo, called the Gaza Strip "a big concentration camp," angering Israeli officials. (AP Photo)

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The vocabulary of Hamas propaganda, coming from a member of the College of Cardinals, is a shocking and disappointing phenomenon.
- Yigal Palmor, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

hannesh

Jan 11, 2009 4:50 AM CST

i think you missed the point of the story. the popes complicity to the fascist horror started only after a fictional stage play about the events. the church did collaborate with the Nazi party, but only at the beginning of their. In the later years of the third reich letters denouncing the the nazis were read openly in churches. But then also with dire consequences for them. i'm sure everyone can read for themselves somewhere else further.

riffran

Jan 9, 2009 6:34 AM CST

Hey "stewie"...can you say "OUCH".....that was to the bone....(bowing) "we are not worthy we are not worthy"...lol...too dang funny...lol...riff

Caps

Jan 8, 2009 2:58 AM CST

Stuart, your comment is so correct.

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Israel • Pope Benedict XVI • Gaza • Vatican • Israel and Palestinians • concentration camp • Palestinians • Cardinal Renato Martino

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Vatican, Israel Scrap Over Gaza Remark