Tag Archives: israel

Christians in Gaza Make Their Appeal to the Pope

The sign outside the door read “Cinema Club”, but inside, a Catholic priest was conducting Friday mass in Arabic for Gaza’s furtive Christians. Many of those Christians bowing their heads before a statue of the Virgin Mary were hoping that the power of prayer might nudge along the Israeli security bureaucracy. Six weeks ago, 250 Christians applied for permission from the Israelis to exit the locked down Palestinian enclave of Gaza for a day to see Pope Benedict XVI as he visits in Israel on his tour of the Middle East

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Analysis: Pope’s visit to Israel puts focus on Catholic-Jewish ties

As he arrives in Israel, the focus for Pope Benedict XVI shifts from Catholic/Muslim ties, which were at the heart of his three-day visit to Jordan, to relations with Judaism. TEL AVIV, Israel (CNN) — As he arrives in Israel, the focus for Pope Benedict XVI shifts from Catholic/Muslim ties, which were at the heart of his three-day visit to Jordan, to relations with Judaism. The pope comes to the Jewish state at a moment when Catholic/Jewish ties stand at a crossroads, in part related to broad historical and demographic trends, in part to the image of this particular pontiff.

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Biden prods Israel on settlements

Vice President Joe Biden prodded Israel on Tuesday to halt the expansion of its settlements on the West Bank, a move he called a necessary step toward ending the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Biden told the annual conference of the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee that Israel’s new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has “important ideas” about the peace process.

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Iran’s leaders on ‘wrong side of history,’ Israeli president says

Iran’s "fanatical rulers" pose a nuclear threat to the Middle East and "are on the wrong side of history," Israeli President Shimon Peres said Monday. “In addition to their nuclear option, they [Iran] invest huge capital in long-range missiles,” the Israeli president said. “Iran is not threatened by anybody.

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Obama invites Mideast leaders for talks on ‘comprehensive peace’

President Obama is launching an effort "to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East," his spokesman said Tuesday. Obama has invited key regional leaders to Washington in the coming weeks for consultations on the peace process, Robert Gibbs said. Obama wants to meet separately with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Gibbs told reporters

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