Ethnic/Religious Minorities

Controversial Arab-Israeli woman appointed to Knesset security panel

Labor party legislator Ibtisam Mara’ana, lambasted over allegedly supporting Palestinian assailants, was appointed this week as member of the Knesset’s prestigious foreign and security affairs committee.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | Jul 15, 2021

Campaign poster for new Israeli Knesset member Ibtisam Mara'ana

Egyptian, Ethiopian churches clash over Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem

A crisis between the Egyptian and Ethiopian churches erupted over the ownership of Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem.

Ahmed Gomaa | Egypt | May 8, 2021

Ethiopian Christian pilgrims hold candles during an Ethiopian Orthodox ceremony of the "Holy Fire" at Deir Al-Sultan Church held on the roof of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem, April 30, 2016.

Christians upset when Egyptian government ignores Easter

Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly did not declare Easter an official holiday, upsetting many Egyptian Christians and human rights organizations.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | May 5, 2021

Ultra-Orthodox blame own leadership for failing to prevent Meron stampede

More and more decision-shapers within the ultra-Orthodox community are coming out against their own leadership, calling on authorities to thoroughly investigate the Mount Meron stampede.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | May 5, 2021

Israel marks national day of mourning after Mount Meron tragedy

Flags were lowered to half-staff in Israel on May 2, as the country honored the 45 people who perished in the Mount Meron stampede on April 30.

Rina Bassist | Israel | May 3, 2021

A projection of an Israeli flag flying before lit candles is displayed on the Old City walls of Jerusalem, as Israel declares a national day of mourning for victims of a stampede during the Lag Ba'Omer holiday at Mount Meron, May 2, 2021,

Warnings foreshadowed deadly stampede in Israel

Despite years of warnings that the site was unsafe for such large events, thousands of worshipers gathered at Mount Meron for a celebration that turned into a nightmare.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Apr 30, 2021

Dozens killed at stampede in Israel during religious celebration

At least 45 people were crushed to death during the Lag Ba’Omer celebrations at the Mount Meron site.

Rina Bassist | Israel | Apr 30, 2021

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the grave site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, marking the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic sage, approximately 1,900 years ago, Israel, April 29, 2021.

Court case against priest evokes bitter memories for Turkey’s Assyrians

Turkey’s tiny Assyrian community views a jail term handed to an Assyrian priest on “terrorism charges” as an official strong-arming tactic, while Assyrians around the world call for dismissal of the case.

Sibel Hurtas | Turkey | Apr 23, 2021

Biden calls Erdogan ahead of expected Armenian genocide labeling

The White House readout of the call between the two leaders did not mention the Armenian genocide.

Elizabeth Hagedorn | News Brief | Apr 23, 2021

April 23, 2021 torchlight procession in Yerevan

Turkish talk of reconciliation angers Armenians on 106th anniversary of genocide

Turkey has warned the United States that President Joe Biden's expected characterization of the mass killings of the Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as a genocide will derail Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and further damage US-Turkish ties. Armenians say there is no reconciliation process to speak of.

Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Apr 23, 2021

Catholicos Garegin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, attends a ceremony commemorating the 105th anniversary of the massacre of 1.5 million of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915, at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial in Yerevan on April 24, 2020.

Pope may visit Lebanon once new government is formed

Pope Francis met Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri in Vatican City today.

Al-Monitor Staff | Lebanon | Apr 22, 2021

Pope Francis speaks about the situation in Lebanon as a Lebanese priest (R) holds Lebanon's flag and Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza (L) looks on during the pope's limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on Sept. 2, 2020.

Egypt's Christians fearful after IS killing in Sinai

The latest killing of a Christian man in Sinai by the Islamic State has brought back to Egypt's Christians memories of past attacks on churches by the terrorist group, even as the Coptic Orthodox Church appeared defiant.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Apr 22, 2021

Jerusalem seethes with clashes between Jews, Arabs

The week has been violent in Jerusalem with both Israeli Jews and Arabs reportedly attacking each other in well documented incidents.

Rina Bassist | Israel | Apr 21, 2021

New Israeli legislator smuggles Torah scroll for Women of the Wall

One of the first actions of new Labor Knesset member Rabbi Gilad Kari was sneaking a Torah scroll into the Western Wall plaza for women activists to pray from.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | Apr 14, 2021

New ultra-Orthodox residents make Israel's Dimona nervous

Many secular residents of the southern town of Dimona are afraid that new residents, families from the Gur Hasidic community, will change the character of their town.

Danny Zaken | Israel | Apr 14, 2021

Ethnic/Religious Minorities

Controversial Arab-Israeli woman appointed to Knesset security panel

Labor party legislator Ibtisam Mara’ana, lambasted over allegedly supporting Palestinian assailants, was appointed this week as member of the Knesset’s prestigious foreign and security affairs committee.

Egyptian, Ethiopian churches clash over Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem

Christians upset when Egyptian government ignores Easter

Ultra-Orthodox blame own leadership for failing to prevent Meron stampede

Israel marks national day of mourning after Mount Meron tragedy

Warnings foreshadowed deadly stampede in Israel

Dozens killed at stampede in Israel during religious celebration

Court case against priest evokes bitter memories for Turkey’s Assyrians

Biden calls Erdogan ahead of expected Armenian genocide labeling

Turkish talk of reconciliation angers Armenians on 106th anniversary of genocide

Pope may visit Lebanon once new government is formed

Egypt's Christians fearful after IS killing in Sinai

Jerusalem seethes with clashes between Jews, Arabs

New Israeli legislator smuggles Torah scroll for Women of the Wall

New ultra-Orthodox residents make Israel's Dimona nervous

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