Israel-Hamas war
Avi Dabush survived Oct. 7; so did his commitment to peace
By Michele Chabin — April 8, 2024
JERUSALEM (RNS) — The longtime peace activist has ramped up his activism since the terror attack that threatened his family and killed 5 in his village.
Biden faces protest over his support for Israel during White House meeting
By Chris Megerian — April 4, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several Muslim community leaders had refused invitations to break their fasts with the president, saying it would have been inappropriate at a time of famine in Gaza.
Pope shows off rosary of slain Ukrainian soldier, denounces ‘madness of war’
By Associated Press — April 4, 2024
ROME (AP) — Praying for the families of the seven World Central Kitchen workers killed, he called for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza's people and for all efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Muslim leaders reject chance to break bread with Biden as anger over Gaza festers
By Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller — April 3, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats fear that Biden's loss of support among Muslims could help clear a path for his Republican predecessor to return to the White House.
New York’s governor is hiring her first Muslim Affairs director
By Fiona André — April 1, 2024
NEW YORK (RNS) — Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, Governor Hochul's relations with the state's Muslim community have been strained.
Ships with a second round of aid for Gaza have departed Cyprus as concerns about hunger soar
By Associated Press — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — The United Nations and partners have warned that famine could occur in devastated, largely isolated northern Gaza as early as this month.
Israel’s high court says the government must stop funding seminaries. Could that topple Netanyahu?
By Julia Frankel — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — The politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions while studying full time in religious seminaries, or yeshivas.
Israelis stage largest protest since war began to increase pressure on Netanyahu
By Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and And Samy Magdy — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of Oct. 7 and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack.
High court ruling on Haredi draft exemption may set Israel on course for new elections
By David I. Klein — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — The draft exemptions, long a flashpoint issue in Israeli politics, have become even more fraught since the start of the war in Gaza, as Israel has called up over 300,000 reservists to active service while still exempting Haredis studying Torah.
Palestinian Christians make an Easter call for relief from war’s tightening grasp
By Mitri Raheb — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — An appeal to the world's Christians to pressure political leaders to find a way to peace.
In Jerusalem, Palestinian Christians observe scaled-down Good Friday rituals
By Julia Frankel — March 29, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — The city's streets were noticeably devoid of Palestinian Christians from the West Bank, who normally flock to the Holy City for the Easter festivities. Since Oct. 7, Palestinian worshippers have needed special permission to cross checkpoints into Jerusalem.
Easter 2024 in the Holy Land: a holiday marked by Palestinian Christian sorrow
By Roni Abusaad — March 28, 2024
(The Conversation) — A Christian Palestinian human rights scholar who grew up in Bethlehem writes about the special time of Easter, but also about the restrictions on Palestinian Christians.
With its soldiers mired in Gaza, Israel fights a battle at home over drafting the ultra-Orthodox
By Melanie Lidman — March 28, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Among Israel’s Jewish majority, mandatory military service is largely seen as a melting pot and rite of passage. The ultra-Orthodox say that integrating into the army will threaten their generations-old way of life.
US Jews upset with Trump’s latest rhetoric say he doesn’t get to tell them how to be Jewish
By Peter Smith and Tiffany Stanley — March 26, 2024
(AP) – This week, Trump charged that Jewish Democrats were being disloyal to their faith and to Israel.
A prayer for finding balance in the Holy Land
By Thomas Reese — March 26, 2024
(RNS) — Cease-fire now; release the hostages now.
