PM 'sorry' for offensive skit

Protests by Israeli Christians over the weekend against a segment of a Channel 10 talk show last week reached the cabinet table yesterday, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologized to the Christian community for "remarks against the Christian religion on a television program last week."

Olmert was refering to the storm of protest over a skit on the late-night talk show hosted by Lior Shlein, called "Like a Virgin."

Following Olmert's statement, the Vatican released an official statement noting that the skit desecrated the sanctity of Mary and Jesus, and that it was a "vulgar and offensive act of intolerance." The Vatican also said it regretted that such an attack was directed against Mary and Jesus, "children of Israel."

Said Olmert: "I don't want the government of Israel to become the kind that criticizes television programs, but if in another country similar things were said about the Jewish religion, there would certainly be an outcry in the Jewish community. There is certainly place for wisdom and responsibility, and a modicum of restraint even in a satire."

Olmert apologized particularly to the Christian community "living in Israel in coexistence with us," and added: "The relations with the Vatican and with the Christian world are very good and there is no reason to harm them in this context."

Channel 10 apologized over the weekend again for the skit.