Israel’s Foreign Ministry yesterday posted on its official X account a short statement expressing condolences for the death of Pope Francis, reading simply “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” Within hours, however, the post was deleted, and orders were issued to Israeli diplomatic missions around the world that any similar posts be removed, and that no one was to sign condolence books in Vatican embassies, Ynet reports. A senior official at the Foreign Ministry explained that the condolence was posted “accidentally"!
Some Israeli diplomats were “furious” about the order, reports the Times of Israel. An unnamed diplomat is quoted: “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.” Said another: “Not only did we not say words of condolence, but we chose to erase them—and that looks bad. Very bad.”
