The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been closed in protest at Israeli tax policies which Christian leaders say unfairly target the Christian community. The Church is important to Christians as it was built where Jesus’s crucifixion is believed to have taken place. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Israel’
Jerusalem: the latest chapter in a century of colonialism
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
One hundred years ago, on 11 December 1917, the British army occupied Jerusalem. As General Allenby’s troops marched through Bab al-Khalil, launching a century of settler colonialism across Palestine, prime minister David Lloyd George heralded the city’s capture as “a Christmas present for the British people”. In a few months’ time, we mark another such Read more
The plight of Christians in Palestine
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
On 6 December, Donald Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. “It has been the capital of the Israeli people since ancient times,” said the President. “It’s undeniable, it’s just a fact.” Christians in Bethlehem responded to the news by burning photos of the American president. They held signs saying: “Jerusalem, Palestine’s heart, is not Read more
Jerusalem for all Abrahamic religions, not just one
Thursday, December 7th, 2017
Jerusalem was formally recognised by the United States (US) as the capital of Israel on Wednesday. At the same time, President Trump announced plans to eventually relocate the US Embassy to the holy city. Pope Francis responded to the change in US policy, saying he wants the “status quo” to remain. He says he is Read more
Christians are Israel’s best friends
Monday, October 16th, 2017The Israeli prime minister says Christian communities are Israel’s best friends. Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking to a group of Christian media professionals at the Christian Media Summit in Jerusalem. His comments and the event itself reflect the close ties and staunch support for Israel in the evangelical world. Read more
50 years of occupation by Israel – enough is enough!
Thursday, October 5th, 2017
Fifty years is a long time to endure forced suffering. Since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War when Israel captured and occupied the Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem, the remaining part of the West Bank and Gaza, the Palestinian people have lived under the heavy yoke of Israeli military occupation. According to Human Rights Watch’s Middle East Read more
Gay marriage not a civil right, rules court
Monday, September 4th, 2017
The Israeli Supreme Court has unanimously rejected an appeal for the law against gay marriage to be overthrown. The court justices ruled that Israel’s practice of not recognising same-sex marriages does not contravene Israel’s Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty. The ruling followed an appeal to the court from Israel’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Read more
Pope – pray for peace and reconciliation at Temple Mount
Monday, July 24th, 2017
Pope Francis is urging people to pray for peace and reconciliation and has called for “moderation and dialogue” during an upsurge in violence between Israel and the Palestinians over Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Francis says it is with “trepidation” he is following the “grave tensions and violence” that erupted at the holy site on 14 July. Read more
Joseph and the amazing disappearing Israel reference
Monday, June 19th, 2017The Wellington City Council has apologised to Sir Tim Rice after the word “Israel” vanished from song sheets featuring the renowned lyricist’s work. The printed lyrics – with a modified version of Close Every Door from Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – were prepared for this year’s annual Wellington children’s festival, Artsplash Read more
Benjamin Netanyahu – hero or villain?
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017
Benjamin Netanyahu is about to make an historic visit to Australia. Should he come and how should he be received? Having just guided legislation through the Knesset ‘legalising’ the illegal: settler outposts on private Palestinian land; he has seemingly set in motion an unstoppable movement which, taken to its ultimate conclusion, could deprive Palestinians of Read more