Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to Israel -- dogged by critics from all sides

Sheikh Taysir al Tamimi's disruption of the interfaith meeting and Rabbi Meir Lau's lukewarm review of Benedict's remarks at Yad Vashem weren't the only stories of the day -- controversy dogged the Pope's heels as the cranks and the critics emerged from the far-right fringes.

• The Islamic Jihad condemned on Monday the visit of Pope Benedict XVI as a "gift to the Occupation," and said that his presence in Israel "ignores the suffering of the Palestinian people." (Jerusalem Post)

• Extreme right wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel demanded on Monday that Pope Benedict XVI return looted Temple treasures in a criminal complaint they filed at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court (YNet News):

  The two also demanded a stay of exit order be issued against the pope and his three escorts arriving in Israel on Monday.

  Justice Ron Alexander rejected the petition later Monday, and ruled that, as the head of a state, the pope has international immunity.

• MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) arrived at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, accompanied by his parliamentary assistant Itamar Ben-Gvir, carrying signs against Pope Benedict XVI. "Border Guard forces removed Ben-Gvir from the area, but Ben-Ari remained due to his immunity."

Israeli right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir is carried away by border police officers, during a protest against Pope Benedict XVI's visit in front of Israeli President's residence in Jerusalem, Monday, May 11, 2009. Source: Associated Press

• Jerusalem Post reports that Police move "far-right" anti-pope protesters from Jerusalem's Palmah Street. No arrests were reported.

• Rabbi David Rosen, an advisor and member of the Chief Rabbinate's inter-religious relations committee and chairman of International Jewish Committee for Inter-religious Consultations, stated that the claims made against the pope in the past few days were "unfounded" and slammed the rabbis who voiced them. (YNet news):

  Talking to Ynet on Sunday, the rabbi clarified that "this is the same group of accusers from nine years ago, when Pope John Paul II visited. They know nothing about the Church and the changes in its views, and are certainly not ready to accept them."

  Rosen, who met with the pope in Rome about two months ago for a "reconciliation meeting" as a member of a Chief Rabbinate delegation, believes that the fact that Benedict was a member of the

  Hitler youth is insignificant, as "a person recruited against his will to such an organization does become a Nazi."

  According to the rabbi, "The only relevant thing is his attitude towards Judaism and Israel, which is consistently very good."

  (Prior to the papal visit, Rabbi Rosen penned a defense of the Pope: Pope Benedict and the Jews Jerusalem Post March 29, 2009).