ISRAEL (VINnews) Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau wrote a letter Sunday to Pope Francis, urging him to retract his recent comments that seemed to compare Israel to Hamas, and insinuate that Israel has engaged in acts of terror.
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The rabbi was referring to the pope’s comments during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog last month, in which he appeared to accuse both Israel and Hamas of “terrorism”.
Pope Francis said that it is “forbidden to respond to terror with terror.”
Rabbi Lau staunchly defended Israel’s right and responsibility to protect itself, and while expressing regret over inadvertent civilian deaths, he called the pope’s comments “outrageous”.
The hebrew letter said: “I heard your statement following the attack on two women who were in the church compound in Gaza. I too am very sorry for their unnecessary deaths, as is always my sentiment on killing and death. However, I wish to respond to one comment that was made: “terror.”
