Reform Rabbi and human rights activist Jeremy Milgrom begins by reading every day the names of Palestinian victims to denounce Israel's moral, political, and religious decline. Israeli society has become fragmented, marked by extremism, the misuse of biblical texts, and fear. Milgrom describes how the balance of power is changing in Israeli society and calls for a revival of the tradition of mercy to hear “the cry of the oppressed” before it is too late.
Traditionally a moment of joy and sharing between generations, olive harvesting has collapsed due to the war between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli military, which launched fresh attacks in the area yesterday, is stifling any attempts at recovery and preventing the reconstruction of border villages and the regeneration of the land. Despite such difficulties, for farmers, the olive season is a way of affirming, “we still exist”.
The Jordanian scholar spoke to AsiaNews about the critical issues that have emerged after the "easier" step of getting the “living hostages” back to Israel. In fact, Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons, and the establishment of an international force to monitor the truce is stalled. Overcoming the “pattern of regional conflicts and tensions” is needed to create a “future of peace on a cultural, as well as economic basis.”
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.
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.