The Israeli ambassador to the Holy See on Thursday downplayed tensions between Israel and the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI's pointman for peace and justice, Cardinal Renato Martino, likened Gaza to ''a big concentration camp''.
Ambassador Mordechai Lewy dismissed Martino's comments, saying that the cardinal was not in charge of the Vatican's diplomatic relations and had ''never seen a concentration camp in his life''.
''The relationship between Israel and the Vatican is as good as before,'' Lewy said.
He praised the pope for condemning violence in Gaza and appealing to both sides for peace in a traditional New Year's address on Thursday.
Lewy added that a hope voiced by the pope that upcoming elections in the Middle East would produce leaders capable of taking the peace process forward was not a criticism of current leaders nor aimed exclusively at Israel, where elections are due on February 10.
''There are elections coming up in other countries, such as Iran,'' he said.
Lewy also confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI would be ''welcome'' if he decides to go ahead with a visit to the Holy Land that was being planned before Israel began its military offensive in Gaza 12 days ago.
According to leaks from both Israel and the Vatican the visit had been scheduled to take place in May.
''The Vatican will decide if and when the trip will take place, but there is still time,'' Lewy said.
Martino angered Israel on Wednesday by calling Gaza ''a big concentration camp'' in which the ''defenceless population'' paid for ''the consequences of egoism''.
Israel responded by accusing Martino of using the same kind of language as Hamas.
On Thursday Martino defended his comments.
''They can say what they want, but the situation in Gaza is horrible - people are living in conditions that offend human dignity,'' he told daily La Repubblica.
''There was nothing that could be interpreted as anti-Israeli in my words,'' he said. ''Hamas's rockets are certainly not sugared almonds. I condemn them. Both sides have to shoulder the blame''.
