Jerusalem – The Pope will be given unprecedented security when he arrives in Israel tomorrow because of fears that his brief enrolment in the Hitler Youth as a boy of 14 could trigger an assassination attempt by Jewish zealots.
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The Israeli government has ordered Shin Bet, the domestic security service, to take command of the visit. Four Audi armoured cars have been imported from Germany and security chiefs have banned the use of the familiar glass-sided “Popemobile” except for a short journey in Nazareth.
In Jordan yesterday, on the first stage of his middle eastern tour, the pontiff held a meeting with Muslim leaders to express “deep respect” for Islam. He offended Muslims in a speech in 2006 in which he quoted a Medieval scholar who linked Islam to violence.
In Israel Benedict XVI’s German nationality, his service in Hitler’s army, his support for the proposed beatification of Pius XII – known in Israel as the “Nazi pope” – and his decision to revoke the excommunication of Richard Williamson, the British bishop and Holocaust denier, have all sparked anger. The Pope was forced to apologise for mishandling the Williamson affair.
General Giora Eiland, the former head of Israel’s national security council, reflected the views of many Israelis. “It would have been better if the visit wasn’t taking place,” he said. “The Pope’s service in the Wehrmacht is a stain.”
The Vatican insists that Joseph Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth only because it was compulsory and did not attend its meetings. He was drafted into an antiaircraft corps in 1943 and trained in the infantry, but deserted in the last months of the war.
“The fact that he was a member of the Hitler Youth and later served in the German army is more than enough for a lone gunman to try to kill him,” said a security source.
Security chiefs are concerned that a group of fanatical Israelis, such as those behind the murder of Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister, in 1995, could be planning an attack. “To penetrate this group of messianic Jews is more difficult than infiltrating Hamas,” said a Shin Bet source.
The arrest of some zealots as a preventive measure is being considered. About 60,000 policemen and 20,000 secret service agents will make up the visible security, codename Operation White Cloak.
Dov Lior, the hardline chief rabbi of Hebron in the West Bank, called on his followers “not to participate in any event or show respect to the Pope”. He also asked members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, who are affiliated to his religious party to boycott the visit.
Michael Ben-Ari, a Knesset member, said the visit would be an insult to the memory of Holocaust victims. Referring to the rehabilitation of Williamson, he said: “This Pope brought back to the church priests who deny the Holocaust and has renewed discussion on the accusation that Jews murdered Jesus.”
The Pope is to celebrate open-air masses in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth.
This is scary…they should arrest and hold all these meshigoim in jail until after the Pope completes his visit….hashem should protect him and not chas v’chalilah let anything happen to him during is visit to EY. There are some fanatics who would seek to do harm to the Pope in the belief that by doing so, they would trigger riots and wars and thereby hasten moishiach.
That is too precious. There are not enough jails to hold all of your “meshigoim” as you want.
To be honest, they should have rejected the pope’s visit, explaining that with his early history, they could not keep him safe. That would have been an honest statement. In fact, I believe it is actually embarrassing that the so-called “Jewish” State would allow him in considering his past.
I hope the pope is paying for all this, why should Israel pay for something they are not even so interested in?
reply to #2 #1 is completely right in that right now , his eminenece the Pope is the religous leader in the catholic world. There is no evidence of any participation by him of any atrocities whatsoever. Israel should be an example of the respect and dignity afforded his position and during his visit should be given the hospitality he deserves.
This is totally separate from the right of all of us tocriticize his actions in the Williamson affair and other issues. One does not have to participate with him but
should not denigrate him during his visit. #2 that is what 31 really means!!
#8 sorry, but I have to disagree. We are spending millions of shekels for this disruption of commerce among other things in the Capital. Would Wash. D.C. shut down the Center City for a visiting Head of State? Not just for a couple of hours but most of Monday, Tuesday and Friday nothing will move in the Center. Monday and Tuesday, I 217;ll be a virtual prisoner in my apartment. Friday, those who are accustomed to welcoming Shabbat at the Kotel will not be able to get there as the Pope makes a repeat and final stop there before leaving. Also from the schedule, which was  220;thoughtfully 221; sent to every household, (3 languages, beautiful glossy stock, 6 pg. brochure with His Ugliness on the cover. How much did that cost?) it seems as though the air traffic controllers will have to stay late and violate Shabbat to be sure the papal plane gets off safely.
At something like 16% VAT and rebates to tourists when they leave, how long do you think it will take to recoup all that waste of shekels and what is the spiritual cost?
Sounds to me like this shin bet dude is trying to incite something for no reason.
Sorry, but nobody, even the pope, deserves an iota of respect, if they were in any way,shape, or form allighned with h***er y”s! To #1 , your the typical “head in sand” type, sad you don’t feel abliged to defend you jewish ppl and instead stick up for a person who CHOSE to back hitler! He and the nazi from ohio (dejamabjuk) should be roomates in hell!
Personally i think he should just stay home at alleviate the problems his security will cause as well as the fact that we dont need his ‘help’ in solving the so called ‘middle east problem’
I think the main reason not to honor the pope in any way is not especially because of his service in the hitler youth [who said he held of their views, maybe he only joined because it was compulsary], rather because he represents the worlds largest avoida zoro that was established especially as takeover and abolishment of Judaism, and for its cause millions of jews have been slaughtered, burnt, exiled, proselytized, throughout the centuries. Giving honor to this tumah is defiling Hashem and the Torah.
Has anyone made any threats on the Pope’s life? Killing the pope will bring Moshiach???? What the heck is that about?? Implying that “fanatics” would attempt something is a smear on the chareidim, I think.
Millhouse, so age 14-16 is a baby?!? He was in the hitler youth corps-is there anything else I need to know? An enemy and a enemy supporter ammounts to the same enemy! Millhouse, you wana defend a pope who backed hitler, fine! Just, please, don’t distort the truth to fit your twisted logic. You obviously have zero sensetivity to those who sufferd at the hands of the nazi’s- you think a suicide bomber who just doesn’t have the balls to blow himself up is any better than one who blew up already? No, same thing, he just more of a wooss, yet you wana back the woosses of the world?!? God help you, millhouse, get yourself help.