Pope's Diplomat Calls It 'Massacre,' Washington Calls It 'Aid'
Fox News reports Cardinal Parolin's condemnation, noting he also criticized Hamas attacks. This 'both sides' framing often papers over a disturbing imbalance. While mainstream outlets present this as a rare Vatican rebuke, they conveniently omit how often Israeli government actions have been labeled extreme by international bodies, only to be met with steadfast US support. For instance,
Netanyahu's government has employed similar tactics in Gaza before—in 2008-09 ('Cast Lead'), 2012 ('Pillar of Defense'), and 2014 ('Protective Edge')—each time incurring massive civilian casualties and triggering UN investigations that rarely alter US policy. One might wonder at the utility of condemning a 'massacre' while actively funding it. The US has approved multiple weapons transfers to
Israel during this conflict, including a recent potential $18 billion F-15 jet deal, even as the official Palestinian death toll, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, surpasses 33,000. It appears a 'massacre,' when committed by allies, is merely a regrettable 'self-defense' operation, requiring continued 'aid' to ensure its diligent completion. How else can we explain the moral gymnastics of
politicians like Senator Lindsey Graham, who, after receiving hundreds of thousands in pro-Israel PAC money (e.g., $15,000 from AIPAC in 2022-2024, per OpenSecrets.org), routinely defends every Israeli action, no matter how brutal, essentially dismissing the Vatican’s diplomatic 'outrage' as inconsequential?