Thursday, April 27, 2006
In a news article about the march, the L'Osservatore Romano newspaper called the anti-Israel protests a "serious and disgusting offense."
"To offend a flag means to offend the people for whom it is a symbol, and therefore in this case it was an offense to the entire Jewish people, precisely on the day in which we celebrate liberation from their infamous oppressors," L'Osservatore wrote.
Earlier on Wednesday,the Israeli ambassador to Italy condemned as "barbarous" the anti-Israeli demonstrations held "As a Jew and an Israeli, I was filled with shame and anger at the sight of the barbarous behavior of the 'fascists' who defiled the sanctity of the Liberation Day holiday," Ambassador Ehud Gol said in a statement.
The protests occurred near a march Tuesday commemorating the 61st anniversary of Italy's liberation from fascism. Demonstrators trampled and burned Israeli flags and yelled "Intifada" in support of the Palestinian uprising, according to media reports.
The protesters reportedly were angered by the presence in the march of Israeli flags in honor of members of the Jewish Infantry Brigade Group, which helped liberate Italy...
A little more here from the BBC: Israel condemns burning of flag
Nothing out of Europe surprises me anymore. Actually, it's more surprising to me that they haven't started rounding up the Jews there. You know, for our own "protection".
Gee, despite Hitler dominating the continent and being erradicated (as well as his Nazi government) it seems that many of the people have not changed their mindset regarding Israel and Jews.
And you wonder why America and Europe don't see eye to eye on the Holy Land?
Having grown up Catholic, I must say I am surprised that the Vatican had anything at all to say. It's interesting to see them actually take a stand (that I find to be the right one), but take it with a grain of salt since they could withdraw this bit of support at any moment.
Let me just say that the Catholic Church hierarchy has been less than inspirational in my lifetime both personally and on most all larger issues. The sad fact is, just prior to the start of the Iraq war, the Vatican was pretty chummy with Saddam's top man (who claimed to be a Christian). The fact that they'd shake hands with such a man and then condemn the US because we fight to keep our country free... let's just say they're going to have to go lots farther to convince me they're for real.
Like I said - nice gesture though.