Middle East

Sarah Bernstein, executive director of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem, spoke at the Vatican. For her, Nostra Aetate, promulgated by the Second Vatican Council 60 years ago, teaches that dialogue must address the burning realities people may seek to avoid. Attacks by Jewish extremists on Christians and Muslims and their places of worship betray the very foundation of being Jewish. Leo XIV said, “The Church cannot tolerate anti-Semitism”.

The population is “honoured” to have been chosen as the first destination of the pontiff's apostolic journey abroad, but it is also “exhausted”. From two years of war to attacks in southern Israel, many issues remain unresolved. Ortagus' mission for direct negotiations between the Jewish state and the Land of Cedars. The rift widens between Christians, Druze and Sunnis and the Shiite Hezbollah-Amal tandem.

The schedule and logos of the pope’s first international apostolic journey have been made public. In Iznik, a prayer will be held at the site of the ancient Basilica of Nicaea, where archaeological work is currently underway; in Istanbul, the pope will visit the Blue Mosque, but not Hagia Sophia (which Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI visited). In Lebanon, the pontiff will join an interfaith meeting in Martyrs' Square and stop at the port devastated by the 2020 explosion.

Turkey’s opposition leader calls the new case a plot to remove him from office. For observers and government opponents, this is another attempt to take over the city after the ruling AKP lost at the polls. Erdoğan dual track includes repression for opponents and critics at home, and peace mediation abroad (Gaza and Syria).

Azerbaijan might provide troops for the Gaza international stabilisation force under Trump’s peace plan. For 30 years, the Muslim nation in the Caucasus has been a key ally of the Jewish state as well as a channel of communication with Turkey. Bilateral relations are based on the common fight against Islamic extremism and terrorism.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed the law, which has already come into force. For its promoters, it is a response to the leaks of confidential information during the “12-day war” with Israel (and the United States). Critics respond that the government has only targeted ordinary people, without punishing senior officials or those responsible. In the background is the serious economic crisis the country is going through.

It is one of the oldest places of worship on the Arabian Peninsula and is a ‘symbol of faith, history and devotion that attracts the faithful’ from all over the region. Consecrated in 1940, on 8 November it will celebrate an event considered a ‘milestone’ for Catholics in the Gulf. A rector will be appointed to preserve and promote its ‘historical dignity’ and ‘spiritual character’.

Northern Cyprus’s president-elect won over 62 per cent of the vote, beating incumbent President Ersin Tatar, who was backed by Erdoğan. Turkey’s far right is calling for the vote to be invalidated, pushing for reunification. For his part, Turkey’s president is more cautious, adopting a conciliatory tone. At issue are the island's future and its ties with Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Erdoğan is set to travel to the Persian Gulf on a three-day visit.

Work has been completed on the Maryam-e Moghaddas metro station, located near the Armenian Church of Saint Sarkis. In addition to ornamental elements evoking Christian symbolism and connecting it to Muslim tradition, there will also be a 2.5-metre statue of the Virgin Mary. The Latin Archbishop hopes that everyone may recognise in her that “God comes to meet His creation – men and women from around the world, brothers and sisters of a common house”.

​Tomorrow the Armenian Catholic archbishop, martyr of the 1915 genocide, will be raised to the altar of the saints in a ceremony in St Peter's. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Patriarch Minassian will be present, along with hundreds of faithful from the diaspora. For many Armenians, ‘this historic day is also a day of justice’.

After scaling NEOM and other infrastructure, Saudi authorities plan to develop Islam's holy city. The King Salman Gate project was unveiled this week, covering 12 million square metres and provide 300,000 jobs over 10 years. Commercial, cultural, and residential spaces are also planned. But there are also critics.

In the climate opened up by the meeting in Egypt, the Lebanese head of state announced his willingness to hold talks with the Jewish state. However, he did not specify whether these would be direct or not. The similarities between the disarmament of Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah and Amal are looking to the May 2026 elections to maintain their leadership on the Shiite side. And they aim to block any agreement that may be unwelcome.