The Pope and the cardinals of the Vatican help organize tours of Auschwitz for Hezbollah members to teach them how to wipe out Jews, according to a booklet being distributed to Israel Defense Forces soldiers. Officials encouraging the booklet’s distribution include senior officers, such as Lt. Col. Tamir Shalom, the commander of the Nahshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade. The booklet was published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), in cooperation with the chief rov of Tzefas, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, and has been distributed for the past few months.
The booklet, titled “On Either Side of the Border,” purports to be the testimony of “a Hezbollah officer who spied for Israel.””The book is distributed regularly and everyone reads it and believes it,” said one soldier. “It’s filled with made-up details but is presented as a true story. A whole company of soldiers, adults, told me: ‘Read this and you’ll understand who the Arabs are.'”
The copy included a Pesach greeting from Shalom, “in the name of the Nachshon Brigade.”
The story is narrated by a man named Avi, who says he changed his name from Ibrahim after he left Hezbollah and converted to Judaism. Avi says he was once close to Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, and describes Hezbollah’s purported close relationships with the Vatican and European leaders.
The IDF Spokesman’s Office said in a statement: “The book was received as a donation and distributed in good faith to the soldiers. After we were alerted to the sensitivity of its content, distribution was immediately halted.”
According to the book, Nasrallah was invited to join a delegation to tour France, Poland and Italy, including the Vatican. Nasrallah could not refuse an invitation from the Vatican, Avi explained: “We knew [the Pope] identified with Hezbollah’s struggle.”
The book describes the alleged visit of Hezbollah officials to Auschwitz, led by the Vatican: “We came to the camps. We saw the trains, the platforms, the piles of eyeglasses and clothes … We came to learn … Our escort spoke as he was taught. We quickly explained to him: Every real Arab, deep inside, is kind of a fan of the Nazis.”
The booklet also describes how European politicians and journalists ostensibly work against Israel.
“Our escort introduced us to important figures who identify with our causes. Rich people, people with authority … They allocate big budgets to all sorts of Israeli organizations that erode the standing of the IDF … We have a special budget for encouraging politicians and journalists who serve our purposes. Every opinion piece that conforms to our position is rewarded generously.”
Rav Shmuel Eliyahu is a son of former Sephardi chief rabbi Rav Mordechai Eliyahu.
David Menahemov, an aide to Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, claims the book is not fiction. “Avi is a real person and everything in the book is absolutely true,” insists Menahemov. “It’s a totally true story, I know the guy personaly. He’s an Arab, who even though he converted still acts like an Arab. We helped him to write and to translate it. We changed a few details to protect him and his family.”
{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel/Haaretz}
This would not be a surprising piece of info.
http://www.ou.org/news/article/ou_regrets_unauthorized_link_with_publication
OU Regrets Unauthorized Link with Publication
July 20, 2009
A report in the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, dated July 19, 2009, discusses the distribution to members of the Israel Defense Forces of a booklet which asserts that the Pope and the Vatican identify closely with the ideals and purpose of the terrorist group Hezbollah. The report states that one of the booklets publishers was the Israel branch of the Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America). Upon investigation, it has been ascertained that this endorsement was made by staff at the OUs Israel branch office, and was never submitted to, nor approved by, senior Orthodox Union management.
While the Haaretz report certainly sensationalized the books contents, there is no doubt that some of what it contains is antithetical to the well-known views of the OU regarding respect for other faiths and their leaders. The OU rescinds the endorsement of the book and disavows any connection to the views expressed in it. The OUs senior leadership has directed that an internal review of this incident take place, and that the organization tighten its procedures to ensure that such a situation is not repeated. The Orthodox Union expresses its sincere regret to those of other faiths who may have been embarrassed or offended by the publication of this work.