Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he feels "regret, sorrow and disapproval" for a comedy show that mocked Christian theology after the Vatican denounced its portrayal of Jesus and Mary as "offensive".
Government spokesman Mark Regev said Olmert told ministers at the weekly Cabinet meeting the comedy segment was "in stark contrast" to good relations between Israel and Christians worldwide, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Broadcast recently on a late night show on Channel 10, the segment mocked the belief that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus walked on water.
The skit was a sarcastic response to the Vatican's lifting of the excommuinication of SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson who denied the Holocaust took place.
The TV show host later apologised for causing offence.
Earlier, a Vatican press office communiqué noted Friday that Catholic leaders in the Holy Land "publicly expressed the disappointment and protest of Christians in regard to the recent broadcasts on Israeli private television Channel 10 in which the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary are ridiculed with blasphemous words and images."
"Government officials, who were immediately contacted by the apostolic nuncio, promptly assured their intervention with the aim of stopping these broadcasts and obtaining public apologies from the station," the Vatican statement said.
The Vatican also assured Holy Land Christians of its solidarity, affirming that the "vulgar and offensive act of intolerance of the religious sentiments of believers in Christ is deplored."
The statement also noted "the very grave offence against the children of Israel, which Jesus and Mary of Nazareth were."
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian Christians has asked Pope Benedict to call off his planned visit to Israel and the West Bank this coming May, Haaretz says.
The 40 community activists wrote to the pope that his visit would "help boost Israel's image and inadvertently minimise Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation."
The group urged the pope to link his visit to a series of Israeli measures, including improved access to Christian places of worship and halting taxation of church properties.
SOURCE
Holy See Denounces Blasphemous Israeli TV Show (Zenit)
Olmert 'sorry' for TV show that offended Vatican (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Christians urge Pope to call off May visit to Israel (Haaretz)