Israel
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Pilgrimages canceled as new Israeli quarantine comes into effect
New Israeli quarantine measures, in effect from Thursday, have led to cancelled trips to the Holy Land, with some pilgrims... Read more
Israeli forces kill Palestinian minor in West Bank
Mohammed Hamayal, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy, was shot and killed by Israeli troops Wednesday during a clash in the West... Read more
Bishops visiting Holy Land ask for application of international law
Following a trip to the Holy Land, a group of bishops from the United States and Europe called on their... Read more
How a Palestinian village sheds light on the drama of Christians in the Holy Land
Jifna is a Palestinian village in the West Bank, just 5 miles north of Ramallah –the de facto capital of... Read more
Catholic Center in Jerusalem takes care of the 'forgotten kids' of Israel's immigrant workers
There are no tourists in Jerusalem’s Talbieh neighborhood. And even locals don’t always notice the Capuchin Franciscans coming and going... Read more
Vatican Secretary of State marks 25 years of diplomatic relations with Israel
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel... Read more
Catholic bishops lament setbacks for Holy Land peace, but call for a better path
Peace, mutual equality, and respect must be the foundation of progress in Israeli-Palestinian relations, despite continued setbacks, the Assembly of... Read more
Netanyahu West Bank pledge could rule out ‘two-state solution’ in Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that he will declare Israeli sovereignty over existing settlements in the West Bank... Read more
Site of Baptism of the Lord nears reopening as landmines cleared
Churches at the site along the banks of the Jordan river where Jesus is believed to have been baptized could... Read more
Catholic bishops ask Israel to repeal law excluding non-Jews
Top Catholic prelates in Israel are asking the government to repeal the recent Nation State Law, which they say paves... Read more
As US closes Palestinian office, Catholics urge that Palestinian voices be heard in peace process
The U.S. State Department announced today Monday it will close the Palestinian Liberation Organization office in Washington because it says... Read more
What a vocation to be a Holy Land Franciscan looks like
A religious vocation to serve in the Holy Land is demanding, but there is nothing like walking where Christ walked... Read more
Controversial Israeli law excludes non-Jews, Latin Patriarchate says
A recently-adopted Israeli law that strongly affirmed the country’s link with the Jewish people and avoided mention of non-Jews wrongly... Read more
Catholic leaders condemn use of disproportionate force at Gaza-Israel border
During his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis lamented the latest violence in the Israeli-Palestine conflict, expressing his distress that the region... Read more
Pope prays for peace amid escalating violence in Gaza
At least eight Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured by Israeli military forces last week, during the second week... Read more
Christian leaders in US oppose plan to tax church-owned property in Jerusalem
Prominent Christian leaders in America co-signed a letter Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mayor of Jerusalem Nir... Read more
Holy Sepulchre shut down to protest 'alarming' Israeli policies
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been closed indefinitely to protest two proposals that Christian leaders see... Read more
Vatican voices concern over Trump's Jerusalem move
Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 notice that he will be moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem,... Read more
Christians in Holy Land voice fear over Trump's Jerusalem move
Christians leaders in Jerusalem have voiced fear over the repercussionss of America's recognition of the city as Israel's capital, asking... Read more
What the Holy See told the UN about Middle East Christians
The Middle East needs peace, human rights, and the continued presence of Christians, a Holy See diplomat told the U.N.... Read more
