Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, seeks worldwide support for maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem, where settler groups are vandalizing church property and covertly buying up land in the Old City; Jerusalem’s city council wants $200 million in back taxes from churches; land may be expropriated. Phone Congress!
Israel’s callous disregard for Palestinian freedom to worship grows even more brazen than usual this Easter, adding to an already long list of human rights abuses. It’s business as usual under occupation.
“Hosanna” means “save us,” but Israeli soldiers descended on Palm Sunday worshipers anyway, grabbing Palestinian flags out of their hands in the middle of their holy procession.
Another vandalism incident at a church in Israel. Christians are demanding convictions, but Netanyahu’s government continues to turn a blind eye.
As with every year, Israel issued a number of permits for West Bank and Gaza Christians to enter Jerusalem during Easter. But then it imposed a week-long closure on the occupied territories for the Jewish Passover holiday, which coincided with Easter celebrations, thus deeming all permits void for this week.
Hepatitis A, gastroenteritis in Gaza; “Palestinians do not negotiate their own extinction”; Israeli forces kill a Palestinian in West Bank; Israel, US set two-month deadline for Hamas disarmament; Palestinian detainees; Netanyahu whitewashes settler violence on Fox interview; Area B expulsions
Another polar system ravages Gaza; Israeli violence against journalists and their families; Israel attacks another West Bank town
Aid, medicine, bulldozers in short supply in Gaza; antiquities, tourism decimated; “Condemnation Without Consequence”; Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago; why Somaliland matters to Israel; more
The truth this Christmas: Palestinian Christians – and all Palestinians – grapple with heartache and loss, as Israel dishes up Christmas hasbara.
No modern government has ever before invested so much money, coordination, and political effort to mobilize American pastors. Israel paid to assemble 1,000 Christian leaders, covering their airfare and luxury accommodations, and choreographed their every step…