Diplomatic Embarassment || Netanyahu And The Pope: The Meeting That Wasn't

Despite the PMO's announcement last week that Netanyahu would be meeting with Pope Francis, such a meeting was never scheduled.

By Barak Ravid | Oct. 21, 2013

The announcement made six days ago that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would arrive in Rome to sit with Pope Francis has turned into a diplomatic embarrassment for Israel, after it emerged that the meeting was never scheduled to take place.

The Holy See never had a plan to meet with Netanyahu during his visit in Rome, despite a statement made by the Prime Minister's Office to the contrary.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with the Pope during a recent trip to Rome, and even received a pen as a gift that he said he hoped to use to sign a peace agreement with Israel.

Netanyahu also wanted to meet with the Pope and reporters were even informed that he is interested in discussing the Pope's planned visit to Israel, despite the fact that no specific date has been set yet.

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http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.553541