Vicar of Israel: Healing society, for true peace from Gaza to Iran
Trump announced a ceasefire, but promising new attacks, Israel accuses Iran of violating it, a claim Iran rejected. Bishop Nahra describes Israel as a nation still "paralysed" by "permanent war”, vulnerable to rockets. He expressed closeness to Christians in Syria, victims of religious violence. He stressed the need for people "rooted in hope”, while waiting for pilgrims’ return.
Milan (AsiaNews) – Israel is a country "still paralysed" by "permanent war" since 7 October 2023, and "reciprocal attacks" with Hamas in Gaza and the clerical regime in Iran, with "sirens sounding and people fleeing to shelters". Schools "have not been able to normally finish the year” and in many cases people “have been forced to work from home,” this according to Mgr Rafic Nahra, auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and patriarchal vicar for Israel since 2021.
Speaking to AsiaNews, he confirmed that 12 days of war have seen Iranian rockets cause “major material damage” from Haifa to Be'er Sheva. However, he hopes the fragile truce announced by US President Donald Trump can take hold and alleviate critical issues, bringing relief to a population "tired for the wounded, the dead, the destruction".
While the war with Iran has taken centre stage, Gaza remains an unresolved issue with Hamas still holding hostages, “another aspect” about which “very little is being said” at present.
A nation at war
“The war with Iran is felt everywhere, but especially in the centre of the country,” Bishop Nahra explained. “The north has been targeted by Hezbollah in the recent past; before that, the south was targeted by Hamas rockets from Gaza. Now the whole country is involved.”
The rockets that fell in recent days “make no difference between Christians, Jews, and Muslims” and have hit buildings inhabited by civilians, public facilities such as the hospital in Be’er Sheva and the Weizmann Institute of Science, “a medical research centre that has no connection with the military.”
Israelis perceive the war in Gaza and with Iran differently. “The attack” on the Islamic Republic “has received greater support among the population,” due to the “widespread belief” that the nuclear issue and the possibility of an atomic bomb “are a concrete threat.”
Having touched this issue, the patriarchal vicar goes on. “The question is how to start a truce with Iran" even if "warning sirens sounded this morning. The word truce does not inspire confidence, because we want an end to the wars in the region. If a long-term solution is not found, there will always be new threats, mutual attacks, and violence is bound to resume.”
In this perspective, it becomes urgent to do something about Gaza, an "unsolved problem" also at a humanitarian level "due to the lack of food, water and medicine, the displacement of masses of people that has been going on for a year and a half".
The risk in Gaza, he warns, is that of a "famine" of disastrous proportions, combined with diseases and health emergencies in a situation that has long since become "unsustainable". Gaza is "an open, deep and tragic wound" and the army "cannot continue to do what it wants".
A fragile truce
Late yesterday evening, US President Donald Trump announced a truce between Israel and Iran to start at 5 am (GMT), a turning point after Iran announced rocket attacks against US bases in Qatar in response to the US attacks against nuclear targets.
A few hours after the ceasefire announced at the White House came into force, Iranians reportedly launched a wave of missiles that caused, among other things, at least four deaths in Be'er Sheva. The phased-in ceasefire was supposed to start after 12 hours, and is “going to go forever," Trump said.
Instead, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he had instructed the IDF to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.” Iranian leaders responded immediately, denying launching fresh attacks at the Jewish state.
What is certain is that the ceasefire appears fragile and it is not possible to say if it will last.
For his part, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced that “we will not submit to anyone's harassment.”
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said he accepted Trump's proposal for a ceasefire, with his government announcing that it had achieved "all the objectives" it set out in the war against Iran, namely hitting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, seen as an existential threat to Israel.
On the nuclear issue, an Iranian scientist was killed last night in an Israeli attack in the north. Israeli fighters reportedly targeted Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, who was assassinated at his parents' home in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh, not far from the Caspian Sea; a few days ago, his 17-year-old son was killed in an attack on the family home in Tehran.
While Iraq reopened its airspace today after 12 days of closure due to the war between Israel and Iran, people continue to die in Gaza, with the Hamas-run civil protection agency reporting the death of at least 21 people hit by Israeli fire near an aid distribution centre.
Healing society
For Bishop Nahra, the climate of permanent war that has lasted for almost two years must be addressed, with a view of “healing society and seeking reconciliation,” starting “with the Palestinians”. The population is also “divided” on the war, which is why “work within Israeli society is necessary” more than ever.
“Everyone is waiting for this, because there are divisions not only between Arabs and Israelis, but the population of Israel itself is divided, with mutual distrust, political radicalisation. For this reason, we must put everyone back together, and rebuild a liveable, peaceful society”.
The question is “how” to start this work of peace building. For this, “there are elections,” Bishop Nahra said.
“Our task, as a Church and as Christians is to intervene at an educational level, work on minds, and try to influence society. Those who show up at the polls must have a different proposal, not just the ideal of permanent war, even if it is clear that Israel is veering increasingly to the right,” like many other countries.
Faced with such a “complex and worrying” picture, the feeling of “ineffectiveness and powerless” is strong, boosted by events in Syria where Christians were slaughtered and the issue of “confessional violence, against minorities” has become topical again.
“These too are open wounds, a legacy of unresolved conflicts,” added the patriarchal vicar. The same is true for “the hostage question. A lot has to be done if we want to work for peace, but people rooted in hope are in extreme need,” which is the theme of the Jubilee Year.
A final thought is addressed to young people and to those who are thinking of emigrating, especially Christians, because they do not see a future in the region.
“We must say, we need you. We want to do something together. This is a difficult period, but we will reap the benefits in the future while living in trying times,” he said.
“Our hope lies in God, so if I live with this hope inside me, I can give hope to others,” Bishop Nahra added. “Hope is communicated in words, bringing together positive forces, and there are some in the country, among Jews, Muslims and Christians.
“Some people are truly full of good will; they want to move forward. So we must work together, encourage each other, and wait for positive signs. The first and most beautiful would be the return of the pilgrims who were starting to come, while now everything is on hold. Their presence would mean that, truly, everything has changed.”
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