Religion – War Watch

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The pope’s African tour shows the continent is vital to the future of Catholicism
ByNesrine Malik April 29, 2026

Amid the US far right’s hijacking of Christianity and his very public row with Trump, Pope Leo XIV’s visit is symbolic of the ‘growing centrality of Africa and its Black diaspora’• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereAlmost a y…

Read More The pope’s African tour shows the continent is vital to the future of Catholicism
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Judaism | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Religion

Israel’s direction poses ‘existential threat’ to Judaism, UK’s leading progressive rabbis warn
ByAamna Mohdin Community affairs correspondent April 28, 2026

Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy say criticising Israeli government is not disloyalty but a Jewish obligationThe UK’s most senior progressive rabbis have warned that Israel’s current political direction risks becoming “incompatible with Jewish val…

Read More Israel’s direction poses ‘existential threat’ to Judaism, UK’s leading progressive rabbis warn
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Christianity | Donald Trump | Far right (US) | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Pete Hegseth | Petrol prices | Religion | Trump administration | US news | US politics | US-Israel war on Iran

Pete Hegseth’s Iran war messaging echoes sermons from his extremist church
ByJason Wilson April 26, 2026

US defense secretary’s openly Christian nationalist church continues to have growing influence in the White HouseOn 17 April, at a briefing on the Iran war, secretary of defense Pete Hegseth told reporters he had been “sitting in church with my family”…

Read More Pete Hegseth’s Iran war messaging echoes sermons from his extremist church
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Christianity | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Religion

Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon village
ByLorenzo Tondo April 21, 2026

Israel Defense Forces say the ‘soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and value’Two Israeli soldiers have been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in jail after one used a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern…

Read More Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon village
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Christianity | Donald Trump | Gaza | Giorgia Meloni | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Religion | World news

Israeli army to launch criminal investigation after soldier strikes Jesus statue in Lebanon
ByAgence France-Presse in Jerusalem April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Netanyahu says ‘harsh disciplinary action’ will be taken after IDF confirms sledgehammer photo is authenticMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Israeli military is conducting a criminal investigation after a soldier was photographed striking a Catholic…

Read More Israeli army to launch criminal investigation after soldier strikes Jesus statue in Lebanon
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‘Whatever life throws at us, we don’t walk alone’: how a London synagogue attack birthed an act of solidarity
ByEsther Addley April 18, 2026

After the attempted arson attack on a London synagogue, communities remain determined that ‘building higher walls’ will not stem rising tide of antisemitism“How good and how wonderful it is when friends sit together,” reads a quote from the Psalms pain…

Read More ‘Whatever life throws at us, we don’t walk alone’: how a London synagogue attack birthed an act of solidarity
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Pope Leo visits Algeria in sign of Africa’s growing importance to Catholic church
ByAamna Mohdin April 13, 2026

Pontiff makes first papal visit to country as he starts 11-day tour that will also include stops in Cameroon and AngolaPope Leo XIV has arrived in Algeria for the first papal visit to the country, calling for peace on the opening stop of a tour of Afri…

Read More Pope Leo visits Algeria in sign of Africa’s growing importance to Catholic church
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Christianity | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Religion | West Bank | World news

A strategy ‘to make life intolerable’: Israeli settlers are driving Christians out of West Bank
ByJulian Borger in Taybeh April 5, 2026

The Taybeh community has survived crusaders and the Ottoman and British empires, but the latest attacks leave its future in questionTaybeh, a small hilltop town in the heart of the West Bank is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Afte…

Read More A strategy ‘to make life intolerable’: Israeli settlers are driving Christians out of West Bank
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Iran conflict to forefront of UK religious and political leaders’ Easter messages
BySammy Gecsoyler April 4, 2026

Archbishop of Canterbury to issue urgent call for peace, as PM exhorts Britons to ‘choose community over division’Religious and political leaders in the UK are highlighting the conflict in the Middle East in their Easter messages, calling for “peace, j…

Read More Iran conflict to forefront of UK religious and political leaders’ Easter messages
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President of Wisconsin’s largest mosque detained by US immigration agents
ByAssociated Press April 2, 2026

Attorneys for Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born US green card holder, say he was targeted for criticizing IsraelSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque was detained by fed…

Read More President of Wisconsin’s largest mosque detained by US immigration agents