11 May 2009

Rightists Israeli want stay of exit order against pope

Baruch Marzel, Itamar Ben-Gvir file criminal complaint against Benedict XVI, demand court order him to return treasures looted from Jerusalem Temple almost 2,000 years ago. Court rejects petition.

Baruch Marzel Picture

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. 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.

Ben-Gvir and Marzel argued that Roman Emperor Titus, who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, took with him the seven branches candelabrum that was placed there.

Along with the menorah, other artefacts were also looted, such as the basin, the gold and copper altars and the curtains. The two claim that at least some of the treasures can be found in the cellars of the Vatican in Rome.

ynetnews.com