Foreign Ministry deletes X post expressing sorrow over pope’s death
Senior ministry official claims statement went up ‘accidentally’ after report says Israeli diplomatic missions were ordered to take down similar posts, not sign condolence books
The Foreign Ministry has erased a post on its official X account expressing sorrow over the death of Pope Francis.
“Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing,” read the post. It was taken down hours later, and diplomatic missions around the world were ordered to take down any similar posts and not to sign condolence books in Vatican embassies, the Ynet news site reported Tuesday.
Israelis diplomats were furious at the decision and the damage it caused.
“We received no explanation, only an unequivocal order to delete,” a diplomat told Ynet. “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.”
A senior Foreign Ministry official told the news site that the post went up “accidentally.”
President Isaac Herzog posted condolences on X, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been silent.
Relations between the Catholic Church and Judaism have improved in recent decades, after centuries of animosity, though Francis became increasingly critical of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza as time went on, often enraging Israeli officials and Jewish leaders.
Francis in 2014 visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City and also prayed at a section of the security barrier built by Israel in the West Bank dividing Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The Times of Israel Community.