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On Christmas, the pope forgets who the real bad guys are

“Israel Undiplomatic” with Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev, Ep. 34

Pope Francis characterized Israeli counter-terrorism operations in the Gaza Strip as “cruelty” in his Christmas Eve speech.

This marks the second time that the pontiff has criticized the Jewish state’s actions in the course of a week. Earlier, the pope suggested that the world should investigate whether Jerusalem is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

JNS senior contributing editor Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev, former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom—both former advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office—unpack Rome’s attacks and their moral depravity.

In addition, they discuss the significance of Chanukah in light of Israel’s ongoing seven-front war and the near-daily missile fire from Yemen’s Houthis. All this and more on this episode of “Israel Undiplomatic!”

Ruthie Blum, a former adviser at the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is an award-winning columnist and a senior contributing editor at JNS. Co-host with Ambassador Mark Regev of the JNS-TV podcast “Israel Undiplomatic,” she writes on Israeli politics and U.S.-Israel relations. Originally from New York City, she moved to Israel in 1977. She is a regular guest on national and international media outlets, including Fox, Sky News, i24News, Scripps, ILTV, WION and Newsmax.
Mark Regev is an Australian-Israeli diplomat, government advisor, and former ambassador. He served as Israel’s Ambassador to the UK (2016–2020) and as Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications to Prime Minister Netanyahu (2020–2021). Currently, he is the Chairman of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations at Reichman University. Regev co-hosts Undiplomatic on JNS TV’s YouTube channel alongside Ruthie Blum.
The online “peace and justice” conversation is to focus on “U.S. militarism and racism” and is listed on the official website of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Shukrun’s eldest son, Yoav, who was with him during the fatal attack, recounted how his father saved his life, urging him to run.
“Canada’s government will do everything in our power to support law enforcement in ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable,” said Premier Mark Carney.
Former hostages in Gaza Eliya Cohen, Rom Braslavski, Elkana Bohbot and Ohad Ben Ami attended the service.