Auckland’s Catholic and Anglican bishops have called on Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders in accordance with United Nations’ requests. In a joint statement, Catholic Bishop Patrick Dunn and Anglican Bishop Ross Bay said such an act by Israel would be “a pre-requisite for dialogue to establish a lasting and just settlement in the Read more
New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission had joined religious leaders in rejecting hateful acts linked to religion in this country and overseas. “We mourn the tragic, heartbreaking loss of all lives in the conflict in Gaza and Israel: but we must honour their lives by standing up for peace at all costs,” said Chief Human Rights Read more
Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, but left behind death and destruction. Israeli sociologist Eva Illouz tells SPIEGEL that her country is gripped by fear and is becoming increasingly suspicious of democracy. SPIEGEL: There was widespread support in Israel for the operation in the Gaza Strip, despite the huge numbers of civilian Read more
As the current conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine continue to dominate international headlines, it is worth stepping back and taking a longer view. The forces fighting Israel are essentially the same as those trying to remove Bashar al-Assad in Syria and those seeking to take over Afghanistan on the borders with Russia – radical Sunni Read more
New Zealand non-government organisations (NGOs) are responding to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Gaza has experienced an upsurge in violence and an increasing number of civilian casualties in recent weeks. Seven members of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) have launched or are about to launch appeals to raise funds that will Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have asked Pope Francis to declare a global prayer vigil for peace in Gaza and the rest of the Holy Land. In a letter, the New Zealand bishops praise the Pope for his efforts to bring about peace. But the bishops pick up on a request from a Gaza priest, Fr Raed, Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has contributed an initial $20,000 to support a humanitarian response to the emergency in Gaza. Caritas Jerusalem is providing medical assistance, food and other necessities to the thousands of vulnerable people affected by the escalating conflict. More than 775 people have been killed during Israeli attacks, with more than 100,000 Palestinians Read more
Political and religious leaders in Europe have denounced anti-Semitism in their region as protests grow about the conflict in Gaza. “Anti-Semitic rhetoric and hostility against Jews, attacks on people of Jewish belief and synagogues have no place in our societies,” the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy said on July 22. Thousands defied a Read more
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in Wellington have issued a joint statement regarding the current conflict in Gaza and Israel. “We call upon all of the parties involved in the current conflict in Gaza and Israel to cease hostilities, and sit down at the negotiating table and do the hard work necessary to obtain a Read more
Muslims, Jews and Christians throughout the world have fasted from sunrise to sundown on one day, in the interests of peace in Israel and Palestine. July 15 was designated as an appropriate occasion as it fell on significant fasting days in Jewish and Muslim religious calendars. It was the 17th of the month of Tammuz Read more