Middle East

In Jerusalem the two leaders meet to pursue dialogue. Israeli PM says he will try to get the release of Palestinians from Israeli jails and ease movement in West Bank.

Abortion is not a human right; assisted death must not give way to euthanasia; Europe without Christian roots, renounces reason and ages from both a demographical and spiritual point of view; the only way is for Europe to regain its identity if it is to give the necessary contribution to world problems such as poverty and peace. These re just some of the hot topics under discussion in Benedict XVI’s address to the Austrian President and the Diplomatic Corps in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. Given its importance we publish the full text below.

The meeting with Benedict XVI, a “great spiritual figure” and an invitation to visit the Holy Land. The Vatican urges peace between Israel and Palestine and closure on negotiations between the Holy See and the Israeli state.

The “Iraqi Islamic State” has announced fresh suicide attacks against British and American forces during the holy month of Ramadan. Little outcome from the Helsinki peace meeting between Sunnis and Shiites.

It was a brief meeting of 4 hours. Talks adjourned to November next. The Vatican awaits the visit of President Peres.

Sr Raphael, who accompanied the Blessed to Baghdad in 1991, speaks to AsiaNews about Mother Teresa’s witness of faith and charity, “an inexhaustible source of comfort and love, the greatest blessing of a lifetime”.

After 3 months of battle, Lebanese troops declare an end to the siege of the Palestinian refugee camp, where Fatah al-Islam militants had barricaded themselves in. The leader of the terrorist group believed dead. The victory could open the road to candidacy for the head of state for the military chief Suleiman.

Orthodox head comments positively election of new president at the end of annual synod. He announces new conference on the environment and initiatives to promote ecumenism with Catholics.

The remaining 7 hostages, kidnapped in Afghanistan in July, where freed yesterday evening. The government asks families to contribute to the payment of the ransom, while the general public attacks the Presbyterian Church responsible for having organised the mission.

Some theories about an alleged Muslim plan to convert the world are a myth. But it is fair to say that some Muslims are engaged in constant propaganda and that at a social and cultural level Islam is colonising the West. Saudi Arabia provides the money; the process of de-Christianisation offers the religious motive; ignorance and a sense of embarrassment in many Western governments do the rest. Here is the third (and last) part of an analysis by Fr Samir Khalil Samir, an Egyptian Jesuit and Islam expert.

Mohammad Ahmad Hegazi, the young Egyptian man who converted to Christianity and wants his conversion recognised in law, could be put to death for apostasy. This is one way for the Muslim world to protect itself against conversions; another one is through laws that exalt Muslim propaganda but ban that by other religions. In Egypt about 10,000 Christians become Muslim every year but rarely for religious reasons. However, Islam is sick from the lack of spirituality and the reduction of religion to its ethnic, sociological and political element. Here is the second part of an analysis by Fr Samir Khalil Samir, an Egyptian Jesuit and Islam expert.

According to the UNHCR the number is constantly augmenting. Apart form the violence wracking the country, immigration is also fuelled by difficulties in social and health services. The US offers 30 million dollars to aid the crises but western borders continue to remain closed.