Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, today responded to the quote attributed to Pope Francis that “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.”

CJV President Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld issued the following statement:

The accusation of “genocide” against Israel is not merely risible, but was created by Jew-haters anxious to cover for the atrocities committed by the Hamas terror organization and its declared intent to implement Hitler’s Final Solution.
 
Pope John XXIII prayed in 1963, ‘Forgive us for the curse we falsely attached to their name as Jews.” Pope Francis should recall these words by his predecessor, and the improvement in Catholic-Jewish relations they helped bring about.

Photo Credit: “General Audience with Pope Francis” by Catholic Church of England and Wales on Flickr.