“Are you claiming that the artifacts were illegally obtained?”
Yes. Of course technically the Inquisition, Rome’s conquest of Jerusalem, the Crusades, and various and sundry state approved pogroms over centuries may have given the Pope colorable title but not moral title. Is he a legal leader or a moral one?
And I guess the Pope can shelter under diplomatic immunity.
The Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court denied on Monday a bid by Land-of-Israel activists Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir to obtain an order to delay the departure of Pope Benedict XVI and his party at the end of his visit to Israel. The activists had sought the order in connection with books and Temple items believed to be held in the Vatican.
The court ruled that the pope has diplomatic immunity, as do the people around him.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/164950
“Are you saying that possession of land and objects of value acquired by Israel by force are legitimate, but the historical activities of non-Jews isn’t? Are you saying that the many shops that openly and legally sell Judaica can’t really transfer title? Sounds to me like you are in favor of another reparations scam.”
The difference is that Israel fought defensive wars giving them both legal AND moral title.
“Reparations.” No. We don’t sell our heritage and our religion. These are priceless items of religious significance to Jews. We want these sacred items back. Due to the supersessionist doctrine of the Catholic Church they only have monetary value to the Vatican.
The “scam” is that the Catholic Church and its adherents mistreated the Jews for centuries for practicing their religion and yet they collected Jewish sacred texts and objects as if they esteemed Judaism.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. You are a hypocrite. You claim that the actions and genetics of your ancestors gives you privilege and entitlement over the land and sovereignty of the region but deny it to Catholics who trace their spiritual heritage to the very same patriarchs, events, Covenants, and artifacts. Your anti-Catholic hatred is every bit as ugly as the antisemitism you protest.