Religion – War Watch

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Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds
ByDamian Carrington Environment editor May 28, 2026

Rising heat in Saudi Arabia threatens millions of Muslim pilgrims – but cutting fossil fuels would keep it saferGlobal heating has “fundamentally altered” the climate of Mecca and is exposing millions of hajj pilgrims to extreme and dangerous heat even…

Read More Global heating is making hajj ever more dangerous, report finds
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British Museum postpones Jewish culture month lecture over protest fears
ByNadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

Decision draws criticism from some commentators and free speech advocates as well as Tory leader, Kemi BadenochThe British Museum has postponed a lecture for Jewish culture month over concerns that the event would be disrupted by protesters.The museum …

Read More British Museum postpones Jewish culture month lecture over protest fears
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islam | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Protest | Religion | West Bank | World news

Israeli nationalists chant ‘death to Arabs’ in violent Jerusalem Day march
ByJulian Borger and Quique Kierszenbaum in Jerusalem May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Members of radical Jewish groups scuffle with Palestinian residents, with both sides throwing chairs until being separated by policeIsraeli nationalists chanted “death to the Arabs”, “may your villages burn” and “Gaza is a graveyard” in a state-sponsor…

Read More Israeli nationalists chant ‘death to Arabs’ in violent Jerusalem Day march
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Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon
ByStaff and agencies May 11, 2026

IDF says two soldiers will spend weeks in military prison over incident it said was viewed with great severityTwo Israeli soldiers will spend weeks in military prison for the desecration of a Christian object after one stuck a cigarette in the mouth of…

Read More Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon
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In a hushed room, personal testimonies reveal Australia’s troubling rise in antisemitism
ByBen Doherty May 8, 2026

This week, Jewish Australians have spoken about how displays of hostility, discrimination and the Bondi terror attack have changed their lives and their feelings about their place in the communityThe narrow benches of the public gallery are filled. The…

Read More In a hushed room, personal testimonies reveal Australia’s troubling rise in antisemitism
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Israeli settler to go on trial over attack on French nun in Jerusalem
ByAgence France-Press in Jerusalem May 7, 2026

Yona Simcha Schreiber from settlement in West Bank faces charge of assault motivated by hostility towards religious groupAn Israeli settler suspected of kicking and wounding a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem will go on trial for assault motivated by h…

Read More Israeli settler to go on trial over attack on French nun in Jerusalem
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Pope Leo rejects claim he supports nuclear weapons after Trump tirade
ByAngela Giuffrida in Rome May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Pontiff responds after US president accuses him of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ with stance on Iran warMiddle East crisis – live updatesPeople in the US: what do you think of Chicago-born Pope Leo?Pope Leo has said he has never supported nuclear we…

Read More Pope Leo rejects claim he supports nuclear weapons after Trump tirade
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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
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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
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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