Dario Salvi

The White House opens a new front of confrontation with Iran. Netanyahu welcomes the initiative. For Damascus it is a "medal of honor" on the chest of the Revolutionary Guards. Pentagon and CIA also express doubts about the decision. Rouhani: the United States the true "leader of global terrorism".

Polling stations opened this morning at 7am. Voting will end at 10 pm. The outgoing Prime Minister looking for a fifth mandate, an absolute record. The challenger Benny Gantz focuses on the desire for renewal. Advisor to the Palestinian Authority: "The Left does not exist today in Israel".

About 1000 Syrians, including children, have long since returned to their villages and towns. But the emergency, which is also economic and social, remains. Fr. Paul: An independent body is needed to follow their return. Often they cross the border again without being registered. The Lebanese president attacks the Arab Spring: "Hell".

6.3 million voters will vote tomorrow to choose the next government. The opposition tries to end 13 years of power of the outgoing Prime Minister. With US support, Netanyahu plays the card of the West Bank and East Jerusalem territories to win over settlers (and the right wing).

The museum is home toartefacts from the Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Islamic periods. Closed since 1991, after 10 years of work it has reopened its doors to the public and intends to become a "message of peace and civilization". The prelate: after months of tension the situation has improved, but employment opportunities and services ".

Four years after the start of the conflict, Msgr. Hinder tells of a country "held hostage" by the struggling parties “inability” to "find a compromise". The hope of carrying out a pastoral visit in March 2015 canceled. And to send a priest to a Christian community marked by "material and spiritual" wounds and "worried" for the future of the country and of the Church.

Eman al-Nafjan, Aziza al-Yousef and Roqaya al-Mohareb were able to leave their cell. In these months of imprisonment they have suffered violence and abuse. Another eight women should be released by March 31st. For their campaigns they risk up to five years in prison. The sentence expected for early April.

On March 30 and 31, Francis will visit the North African country at the invitation of King Mohammad VI. Great expectations among Catholics, many of them immigrants from the sub-Saharan area. A young and living community. Father Davide, missionary in Algeria: "Unique opportunity" to give visibility to the local Church.

President Rouhani, visiting the affected areas, speaks of "an unprecedented phenomenon". The energy minister points the finger at "climate change". Affect the areas to the north, east and south of the country. Now the bad weather is moving towards the eastern sector; expected new, intense phenomena from March 30th.

The cardinal led a prayer at St Paul’s Church at a service attended by the nuncio and many Christian and Muslim leaders. The Chaldean Church donated US$ 20,000 to the victims’ families. The prelate called for joint efforts achieve "security" and undertake the "process of reconstruction". He backs the creation of government task force.

Several member states of the Council speak of a decision that violates all past resolutions. Saudi Arabia and Iran are also opposed. For the United Nations the status of the Heights "has not changed". Protests against Trump's unilateral move in various cities of Syria.

Yesterday, the US president signed a proclamation recognising Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights. Iran and Saudi Arabia (along with Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar) have slammed the decision. For Iran’s Rouhani, this is an "unprecedented" action. For Riyadh, this will have "negative effects on the peace process” in the Middle East.