Misunderstanding

Vatican City

Israel demanded an explanation this week after the pope omitted the country from a list of nations victimized by Islamic terrorists. In a recent sermon, Pope Benedict asked God to “stay the hand” of fanatics such as those who had killed people in “Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Britain.” Why, Israel’s Foreign Ministry asked in a written statement, didn’t the pope mention Israel, where a Palestinian suicide bomber killed five people two weeks ago? “This cannot but be interpreted as a granting of legitimacy to the carrying out of terrorist attacks against Jews,” the statement said. The Vatican said the pope condemned “all terrorism everywhere,” and that no offense was intended.