Israeli Rabbis Cut Off Vatican Over Holocaust Dispute

Pope attempts to smooth ties with conciliatory remarks

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Jan 28, 2009 3:02 PM CST

(Newser) – Israel’s senior rabbinical body has severed ties with the Vatican, saying Bishop Richard Williamson should recant his statements denying that millions of Jews were "deliberately gassed" during the Holocaust. The chief rabbinate expressed “sorrow and pain” at the decision, which follows worldwide outrage among Jews and progressive Catholics for Pope Benedict's decision to reinstate Williamson, the Telegraph reports.

The rabbis also canceled a March meeting with the Vatican, which says rehabilitating Williamson doesn’t endorse his extremist views. In his first public statements on the controversy, the pontiff called the Holocaust a “brutal massacre of millions of Jews, innocent victims of blind hatred.” His words failed to blunt the controversy over his reinstatement of Williamson, who had been excommunicated.

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Pope Benedict said today that he feels "full and indisputable solidarity'' with Jews and warned against any reduction or denials of the horror of the Holocaust. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pope Benedict XVI spoke days after his decision to revoke the excommunication of a bishop who says no Jews were gassed during the Holocaust outraged Jews. (AP Photo)

The Pope meets with former Israeli President Shimon Peres last year to start preparing for a May visit to the Holy Land by Pope Benedict XVI. His recent move may sour his welcome. (AP Photo)

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Bishop Richard Williamson shares his views that Jews were not gassed during the Holocaust and only about 300,000 of them died. (sal64lon)

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Israeli Rabbis Cut Off Vatican Over Holocaust Dispute