A group of Israelis will press criminal charges at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Monday, accusing the Vatican of stealing Jewish treasures. Among the treasures claimed are vessels plundered from the Temple by the Romans under the command of then-general Titus, including the seven-branched golden Menorah. The complainants add that on separate dates -- many hundreds of years later -- various tractates of the Talmud, books of Maimonides, and around 7,500 works on Jewish philosophy and science were stolen and remain in the Vatican library. According to information that the complainants have access to, these books can be found in the Vatican – and some of them were on display in an international book fair. The list of witnesses appearing on the complaint include Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Yonah Metzger and Rabbi Shlomo Amar, along with Rabbi Yisrael Ariel of the Temple Institute. The Vatican too needs to be accountable.

for, as you know, it is written . .

Happened 70 years ago... or for most ... could they give a toss.... What happened 2/3 months ago and what happens Now.. is of much more Relevance... The "Victim" card that Jews seem to wish to play is tedious as much as it is Irrelevant.

please do read your last sentence. it seems to me you are talking about yourself. vivienne beirut, lebanon

the "victim" card that the arab in israel and west bank and gaza seem to wish to play is tedious as much as it is irrelevant. vivienne, beirut, lebanon

First fire the Holocaust Deniers teaching at Ben Gurion U!

Good. I think the Vatican should give us back all of our stuff before they start making demands on us. They can continue with synogogues in Spain they stole and now use as churches.

According to CNN this morning: "Pope Benedict will not visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum during his visit to Jerusalem though he will visit its adjacent memorial section. The museum includes controversial wording that reflects a long-running dispute over the role of Pope Pius XII during World War II. Critics have accused Pope Pius of doing too little to prevent the mass murder of European Jews by the Nazis under Hitler. A caption in the museum says he maintained a neutral position during the years of mass extermination. "The Vatican defends him and is gradually opening its archives in an effort to show that he acted behind the scenes.....

that's way cool, RJBH. Let us guess what that stands for: 'Real Jew-Basher/Hater'

Tourism is down 30% during the first quarter of 2009. Doe's anyone really want to get 1.1 billion Catholics angry enough to take their money somewhere else? Let the Pope visit.... no harm done. A few good photograph's and speeches for all. But attempting to fill charges is a joke. It makes the legal system in Israel a laughing stock. Just grow up.... there are more important issues than protesting a head of state.

As a roman catholic palestinian, I am so excited at the visit of the holy father. some people just cant hide their innate hatred towards christianity and the church and will use any opportunity to bash the holy church. This is a great honour for everyone here and thats include the jews.

Filling charges to get back historic relics is a joke? Maybe for you, but those ancient artifacts and books mean a lot to some people. Just be glad those Rabbis are choosing to file charges. Some people try getting back what they want by more violent means....and we know how that works out.

no one in israel need that pop of yours in the holy land of israel he is a bum the jew suffered percussion under the so called holy church they are BUMS not holy and JERUSALEM IS ISRAEL NOT palestine there os no palestine

And,certainly, it is from these tractates of the Talmud and the other works you mention,that the Vatican keeps itself with the knowledge to keep on ,and perfectionate, their thievery of the Jewish faith ,confounding their flock with a robbed ,and then adapted to their interests,work. They ,certainly,don't give it back because it is a precious source for them. Indeed,very disgusting!

to make Catholics angry it's bad for Israel business?The pope is not a true Christian.Christianity is through Jesus Christ and not by good works or seven sacraments.Jesus only plus nothing. The world compromises because it doesn't want to upset Muslims and Catholics.

I'm glad you know that. The true Christians[were called heretics]and the Jews suffered persecution under Roman Catholic.I hope Jews know by now that Catholics and true Christians are not the same.We're different from Catholics.Christianity began in Jerusalem,so Catholic is not the oldest religion.Christianity is older than any other religion like Islam and Roman Catholics.

Again, demonstrates huge life and death gap between journos and elites absolutely obsessed with the "pope" and the rest of us who are already sick of seeing his picture every day.

Hi Keren. I feel very proud that Israelis will stop being on the defensive and will take the initiative to go after those who have done us wrong, and who continue to do us wrong. Taking on the Vatican should be only the beginning. The next one on the list should be the British government, for many reasons, particularly for their violation of the terms of the League of Nations Mandate, when they partitioned land that had been legitimized by the League of Nations for the future home of the Jewish people, and gave it to the Arabs. And now, Keren, they have the arrogance to demand another partition... The Vatican is not the only one who has Jewish property. Confiscating Jewish property and extorting money from Jews was the European way of life for many centuries. It may not be realistic to demand compensation now, but Europeans must officially acknowledge it. This is important at a time when Europe has the nasty habit of pointing an accusing finger at Israel for merely existing. And Spain deserves particular attention, with their fondness for throwing accusations at Israel, while they seem to have completely forgotten their Inquisition, the forced conversions, and the expulsion of Jews. All this will work and demand for accountability will have to be done by proud Jews, because the government will continue with its usual way of doing things.

To find about the Holocaust in the Torah, look into Dvarim (Deuteronomy) 31:16-18. Take the letter "Hei" from the word "Moshe" and count 49 letters. Take the next letter, the "Shin" from the word "Shama." Count another 49 letters, and then take the "Vav", count 49 letters again and take the "Alef", count again and take the "Hei." These letters spell "HaShoah" (The Holocaust). can't you invent a similar way to prove Zion of Jerusalem?

The Pope condemn deniers? The papacy is the cause of the anti-semitism which caused the Shoah. More important, tell the Pope to delete the lie that the Jew is responsible for the death of their god, JC.

#11..James , Jerusalem "Palestine " ??? REALLY !! ...... YOU ARE STARTING CONFLICT YOURSELF BY USING THE TERM.......... "Jerusalem "Palestine " JAMES SAYS " Stop this, He is our leader " I SAY TO JAMES ...... YOU STOP THIS COUNTRY'S RE-NAMING, AS IT IS INSULTING AND DISRESPECTFUL TO JEWS AND ISRAEL.. AS JAMES PLEADS FOR RESPECT FOR FOR HIS BELIEFS AND THE POPE, HE NEGLECTS TO GIVE THE SAME RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, WHOSE COUNTRY HE LIVES IN. IT IS JERUASLEM ISRAEL, NOT PALESTINE ....... AND IF YOU HAD STATED IT THIS WAY , I MAY HAVE RESPECTED YOUR PLEA FOR RESPECT ON THE BASIS THAT WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND ENTITLED TO OUR BELIEFS, BUT YOU BLEW IT BY DENYING THE FACT OF JERUSALEM IS IN ISRAEL. ALSO HE STATES THAT " some people just cant hide their innate hatred towards christianity and the church and will use any opportunity to bash the holy church". YOU MUST BE REFERRING TO THE ARABS ISLAMISTS WHO EVERYDAY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO CONDEMN JEWS AND CHRISTIANS..... THE "ISLAMICS" CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE THE TRUE FAITH AND THE REAL "ALLAH", NOT LIKE THE UNHOLY CHRISTIANS AND JEWS. TRY AND SEE IF THE POPE IS WARMLY GREETED IN SAUDI ARABIA ....... NO CHANCE IN HELL !!!

You obviously have too much time on your hands. What a load of BS!!

Freemasons need to give the Vatican back to Catholics.

as i find it interesting what israel is doing,i wonder at the mind set of the jewish people,as one who does,nt know,where better to ask,.i,m a christian an believe that the jewish people are g-ds chosen people,.as i read about the pope,i don,t concern myself with there ideals,i am concerned with israels safety,an i for one would think little of coming an fighting beside israel if need be,.so hows it going,.james