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She had not wanted the battle, but when challenged she fought courageously as her biblical namesake had done, proving the liars in the wrong. The Pope’s words pale next to the dauntless stand of Professor Lipstadt who fought for the truth to triumph --- and won!

Although the Pope’s words were soothing, we waited in vain for the balm that would heal our gaping wounds. He left them exposed for more injury as he shook hands with a modern-day Haman tainted with the innocent blood of Jews and even of his own people: Yasser Arafat!⁵

Furthermore, John Paul II spoke of the “rights” of the Palestinian people to the Holy Land, to create their own state on the soil G-d swore to give as an inheritance to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Thus he strengthened Arafat’s goal of usurping the state of Israel.

In supporting the Palestinians’ "equal" rights to the land, the “Vicar of Christ” contradicted the express will of his Divine Master. G-d never allotted any portion of the Promised Land to the Philistines who number among His enemies named in Psalm 83. By not refuting their claim the Pope became partner in their ultimate goal. In addition, the Holy See signed two conflicting agreements --- one with Israel and one with the international terror organization, the PLO⁶. The Church of Rome displayed a double standard regarded as diplomacy by the world but as unacceptable compromise to the Holy One of Israel. For by keeping one the Vatican shall be in conflict with the other. The Pope failed to clearly refute the “replacement” doctrine of the Church of Rome.

However, the man Wojtyla’s love for the “people of the Covenant”, the brethren of His Savior and Lord, was apparent when he placed a sheet of paper into a crack of the Western Wall [Kotel], dated and signed by him, on which he had written:

“G-d of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your Name to the nations. We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking Your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.”⁷

John Paul II’s visit to Israel⁸  was a historical act, signaling an end to the “times of  the Gentiles”. He closed the circle begun by his predecessors when he acknowledged the Jews to be the people of the Covenant (even though he meant the Old one and not the New). The scepter and staff will once again be in Judah’s hands: for “the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until He comes to Whom it belongs; and the obedience of the people is His.”⁹