Israeli right-wing activists plan to disrupt Pope visit

May 6, 2009, 8:44 GMT

Tel Aviv - Israeli right-wing activists are planning to disrupt the visit to Israel of Pope Benedict XVI, which begins next week, the Israeli Ma'ariv daily reported Wednesday.

Ultra-nationalist legislator Michael Ben-Ari, who called a meeting of the activists to plan ways of ruining the visit, said he would not attend the official ceremony at President Shimon Peres' residence next Monday afternoon welcoming the pope.

He said the ceremonies Israel was planning for the papal visit amounted to 'turning the back on the millions of Jews killed and massacred by the Inquisition.'

The activists are also planning to ask the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial centre not to host the pontiff 'since he was a member of the Hitler Youth and since he brought back to the Church priests and bishops who deny the Holocaust,' a reference to Benedict's decision to lift the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson.

They also insist that Israel's two chief rabbis demand Benedict give an undertaking not to act against the Jewish people.'

A special committee of Israel's parliament, meanwhile, upheld a decision to reject Ben-Ari's demand that the plenum hold a debate on the papal visit.

Benedict begins his five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian areas next Monday.