ISRAEL

DARAMSUQ/TEL AVIV — Once a taboo topic under the former Syrian dictatorial regime, the phrase “normalization with Israel” is now increasingly echoed across Syria, signaling the potential start of a new era in Syrian-Israeli relations. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barack, confirmed that the new…

TAYBEH, Holy Land — Taybeh, the last fully Christian village in the West Bank, is no longer safe as Jewish settlers continue their violent attacks on Palestinian villages and property in its surrounding area. “We live under constant fire from settlers, and under the crossfire of the Israeli occupation army,”…

DOHA / WASHINGTON, D.C. / TEL AVIV — A volatile series of events unfolded in the Middle East yesterday, beginning with Iranian missiles targeting the US’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and culminating in the swift collapse of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel announced by US President Donald…

TEHRAN / TEL AVIV — The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered a critical new phase, now in its fourth consecutive day following three nights of deadly exchanges that have killed dozens of civilians.   In a sharply worded statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Tehran’s citizens would “soon pay…

TEL AVIV — In a dramatic escalation spanning the last three days, Israel and Iran have traded increasingly severe air and missile strikes, prompting Israel to shore up its defenses even as Washington hesitates to join the conflict directly. According to Axios, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged President Donald…

TEL AVIV / TEHRAN — For the second consecutive day, Israel and Iran continued to trade airstrikes and missile attacks, following a preemptive Israeli strike targeting Iranian nuclear sites, senior military figures, and scientists.    Iran’s armed forces declared that their response would know no boundaries and warned that any…

TEL AVIV / TEHRAN — In a dramatic escalation that marks the most significant direct attack on Iran since the 1980s, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping aerial offensive early Friday, striking nuclear sites and top military leadership across Iran. A statement from IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin on…

This article is based on reporting from Sophie Holloway for Lacuna Magazine and Marinella Bandini for the Catholic News Agency. JERUSALEM — In the shaded lanes of Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, a centuries-old community is locked in a bitter struggle over the future of its historic enclave. Once safeguarded by arcaded…

Jerusalem — The Israeli military has recovered the body of a Thai national abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack, according to a statement released by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday.  The hostage, identified as Natthapong Bentha, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the surprise…

JERUSALEM – A leading Palestinian snack company has come under fire from Christian communities in Arab areas and beyond for a now-deleted advertisement that parodied Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” replacing the iconic Christian imagery with sheep-headed figures and popular snack products. The ad, released by Al-Qasrawi Commercial and…