Every word counts in the delicate diplomacy of the Middle East, where negotiators have often resorted to creative ambiguity.
So Pope Francis’ sotto voce greeting to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting at the Vatican on Saturday, in which he referred to Mr. Abbas as an “angel of peace,” but with an uncertain verb, has caused a linguistic and political furor that is still resonating days later.
Did the pope tell Mr. Abbas “You are an angel of peace,” as many news outlets, including the main Italian news agency ANSA, The Associated Press and The New York Times, reported? That phrasing pleased Palestinians but infuriated some Israelis and Jewish leaders around the world.
Read more at The New York Times.
