Starting today, the first day of the academic year, schools remained closed due to Israel’s failure to renew entry permits for school staff. The Jewish state's measure affects more than 70 teachers and non-teaching staff, as well as 8,500 students. Various Christian Churches are united in protest, a repeat of what occurred last Christmas.
The Chaldean Patriarch launches an appeal less than a month before the general election, inviting people to choose candidates ‘suitable to serve the people without discrimination’. The issue of the fight against corruption and the power struggle between groups. The choice of Christian candidates and the risk of infiltration. The unresolved issue of the political participation of Iraqi minorities after 2003.
Israel’s prime minister pulls out from the signing of the agreement, ostensibly because of a Jewish holiday, but the most likely reason is the presence of Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli media announced a historic visit by Indonesian President Prabowo to Israel tomorrow, which Indonesia’s foreign ministry quickly denied. Modi snubs the summit, sending his Minister of State for External Affairs.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Yonatan Zeigen calls for breaking the mould of a country at war where time has stood still since the tragedy of 7 October. The time has come to think about the present and the future, beyond Trump's peace deal, and imagine a "different vision" based on "equality" between the two peoples. Now a new leadership, a new government, a new mindset are needed for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Damascus wants to secure the release of fellow citizens who have been detained without trial in Lebanon for years and are ideologically close to HTS. Their arrest was based on ideological motives linked to mere suspicion. According to Lebanese ministerial sources, there are at least 2,100 of them, 55% of whom have never appeared in court. At the root of the controversy are the civil war in Syria and Hezbollah's hegemony.
AsiaNews publishes the thoughts on the Gaza peace deal (in its first phase) by the political activist and mediator. A key player in the release of Israeli soldier Shalit, he has worked behind the scenes in recent months to achieve a ceasefire. Against the backdrop of Biden's weakness, the Netanyahu government's war at all costs, and Trump's strength in imposing peace (with Turks and Arabs), Baskin's remarks are a testament to the ongoing struggle.
Official ratification awaited after Israeli government meeting. In a statement, the Latin primate of Jerusalem speaks of “a first phase” which nevertheless represents “good news”. Fr Romanelli calls for “just and lasting peace”. Consensus reached on the release of prisoners and the withdrawal of troops, but unresolved issues remain to be defined in subsequent phases.
While negotiations continue in Sharm el-Sheikh for the release of the hostages still alive, the family of Bipin Joshi, the last Asian hostage whose fate is still unknown, has authorised the release of some images proving that he was still alive two months after he was seized. The family is “barely holding on” to this.
Choosing a country that wants to return to being a model of pluralism is a “significant” step said Marwan Sehnaoui, president of the Order of Malta in Lebanon, speaking to AsiaNews. The visit will also include a meeting on Muslim-Christian dialogue. All leading government officials, including President Aoun, a Christian, and Parliamentary Speaker Nabib Berri, welcome the announcement of the visit, which will fulfil the late pope Francis’s wish to visit Lebanon.
The Vatican announced the visit for 27 November to 2 December. Together with Patriarch Bartholomew, Leo will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which formulated the profession of faith that still unites Christians. The trip to Lebanon, which the late Francis wanted to visit, will take on particular significance given ongoing wars in the region. Cardinal Parolin speaks on the second anniversary of Hamas’s attacks on 7 October.
In northern Syria, the first elections since the fall of Assad were followed by renewed violence. Kurdish authorities say that government troops have imposed a siege, while attacks on checkpoints were reported in Damascus. A witness in Aleppo spoke to AsiaNews about a “terrible night” with people “holed up in their homes.” The understanding for the control of Rojava is at an impasse, while voting was not held in Kurdish areas and Suwayda governorate.
The vicar to Israel spoke to AsiaNews, expressing hope that peace talks will be given a real chance to stop the carnage in Gaza. Tomorrow, the anniversary of the Hamas attack, prayers will take place to Our Lady of the Rosary on her feast day so that she "supports us on our journey.” For the prelate, unresolved issues remain. “Israelis and Palestinians must show the will to move forward.” The Church's role is to mediate and include.
A court has upheld decades of prison sentences for five defendants. Their ‘crime’ was participating in house church services, taking online courses on faith and attending training courses abroad (Turkey). On 7 October, another trial for blasphemy. In August, state television broadcast a propaganda documentary featuring forced confessions by converts.
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