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ISRAEL DELETES SOCIAL MEDIA POST EXPRESSING SORROW FOR DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS
A message on the country’s verified X account that read “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing” was taken down hours after it was posted on Monday.
Israeli diplomatic missions around the world were ordered to delete any similar messages and not to sign condolence books in Vatican embassies, Hebrew media reported.
Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, posted a message of condolence, but Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, has been silent.
It comes against a backdrop of scepticism in Israel towards the late pontiff, caused by his support for Palestinian civilians, especially since the war in Gaza that began following the Hamas-led October 7 massacre in 2023.
Describing Israel’s military campaign in November 2023, Pope Francis said, “this is not war, this is terrorism”, which led the editor of the Jerusalem Post to accuse him of “unconditional support for Hamas”.
He also criticised the Israeli government’s decision not to allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, into the Strip.
Early in his papacy, he prayed at the dividing wall in Bethlehem, highlighting the day-to-day struggle of Palestinians in the West Bank, which upset many Israelis.
Pope Francis also drew attention to the suffering of Gazans during the current war through his daily calls to the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City, the only Catholic Church in the Strip.
Despite his willingness to upset the Israelis, the move is significant from a state that is instinctively attuned to recognise religious sensitivities and often makes a virtue of doing so on the world stage.
Speaking to Israeli outlet Ynet, a diplomat said: “We received no explanation, only an unequivocal order to delete.
“When we asked, we were told that the issue was ‘under review.’ This does not satisfy us, and certainly not the public to whom we represent Israel.”
“Not only did we not say words of condolence, but we chose to erase them – and that looks bad,” said another. “Very bad.”
On Wednesday, Cardinal Pizzaballa, himself a contender to replace Francis, led a mass for the repose of the soul of the late Pope in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the site of the crucifixion.
