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.
More than 12 million people, or 14 per cent of the population, live in extreme poverty. The number of children at risk of removal from their families due to financial difficulties is up. The birth rate is dropping, raising concerns about the country's future demographic balance. One in four citizens is expected to be over 65 by 2080.
The complaint was made in a statement by Protecting Holy Land Christians. The “reasoning” behind the decision is said to be linked to “the Arnona issue”. The Patriarchate “is currently unable to pay the salaries of clergy, teachers and staff”. In his homily on the Assumption, Cardinal Pizzaballa affirms that the blood of every ‘innocent’ in Gaza and around the world ‘is not forgotten.’
Sandra Awad, former Caritas director and now a UNICEF collaborator, has reported on the devastation of the war in recent years. Today she recalls that, despite violence and critical issues, the community plays a ‘fundamental role’ in spreading ‘the spirit of forgiveness’ and ‘healing sectarian divisions.’ She launches an appeal: ‘Free yourselves from the chains of fear.’
Of these, only 11 have been released on bail. The others remain in prison and join the more than 60 already in jail before the conflict for reasons of faith. According to the Ministry of Intelligence, they are “Mossad mercenaries” trained abroad by churches in the United States and Israel. Article 18: their “crime” was to have participated “in a gathering” of faithful “in a neighbouring country”.
According to the Jordanian scholar, the Netanyahu government's ultimate goal ‘goes beyond’ defeating Hamas and redrawing borders. The West Bank becomes an ‘opportunity to be exploited’ with a view to annexation. The weakness of the Palestinian Authority and the international community, the new paradigm of the Abraham Accords. Among the nations of the region, ‘more tactics than alliances’.
The Chaldean primate recalls the death and destruction linked to the rise of the Islamic State, which are still present today. Lack of rights and security are driving people to flee. Added to this is the persecution by “militias” who practice “extortion, harassment, intimidation, and seizure of parliamentary seats.”
Parliament is discussing a bill that aims to regulate the right to protest and express dissent. Activists and NGOs fear that the text, which has not yet been made public, risks undermining personal and civil liberties in a country heading for elections. Between January and June, at least 20 people were charged with peacefully exercising their “freedom of expression”.
Prime Minister Salam inaugurated a street in the capital named after the ‘victims of August 4’. The Lebanese Church has promoted a prayer vigil and blessed 253 young olive trees dedicated to the victims. In a message from the Vatican Secretary of State, Pope Leo XIV expressed his “closeness.” New calls for ‘justice’ and the emergence of a “network” of responsibility.
Sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, along with 15 other countries (but not the United States), plus the Arab League, and the European Union, the Declaration was sent to governments around the world to gather support ahead of the UN General Assembly in September. It calls for a ceasefire and an international mission to the Gaza Strip, no longer governed by Hamas, Palestinian elections within a year, and the resumption of negotiations without Israeli annexations. China offered its immediate support.
The vote is scheduled for mid-September to signal a return to normalcy, but a third of parliamentarians will still be appointed by al-Sharaa, there are no political parties, and the current constitution does not provide for autonomy for certain provinces. The issues in Rojava, the Kurdish-majority region, and the southern governorate of Suwayda, home to the Druze. Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has denounced abuses against Alawite women.
Last night, settlers again attacked the Christian village near Ramallah, setting cars on fire and spray painting walls with messages of hate. Yesterday, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, visited the parishes of Jenin and Rafidia, expressing solidarity and encouraging the Christian community to “persevere in faith amid adversity.”
The announcement of the imminent recognition by the Élysée Palace was immediately welcomed by Saudi Arabia. Today, Saudi Arabia shares with Paris not only an initiative at the UN on the reaffirmation of the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also many political and economic interests in the Middle East.
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