U.K News

Grieving and often overlooked, Palestinian Christians prepare for a somber Christmas amid war

Published

11 months ago

2023-12-23

It’s a pure delight for the Rev. Khader Khalilia: the excitement, giggles, and kisses when his little kids open their Christmas pyjamas. But this year, simply thinking about it makes Khalilia feel guilty.

“I’m struggling,” said the Palestinian American pastor of New York’s Redeemer-St. John’s Lutheran Church. “How can I do it while the Palestinian children are suffering and have no shelter or a place to lay their heads?”

Suzan Sahori has been working with artists thousands of miles away, in Jesus’ biblical birthplace of Bethlehem, to bring olive wood Christmas ornaments into homes in Australia, Europe, and North America. But Sahori isn’t in the mood: “We’re broken, looking at all these children, all this killing.”

Many Palestinian Christians — in Bethlehem and elsewhere — are struck with helplessness, anguish, and worry during this typical season of joy. Some are grieving, pleading for the war to end, rushing relatives to safety, or taking solace in the Christmas message of hope.

Grieving and often overlooked, Palestinian Christians prepare for a somber Christmas amid war

Sahori, executive director of Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, a craft organization, will pray for peace and justice in the occupied West Bank. She’s thankful she’s safe but wonders if it might change. She is also enraged.

“The joy in my heart is stolen,” she lamented. “‘God, how are you letting all these children to die?’… I’m angry with God, and I pray He forgives me.”

In happier times, she finds the Bethlehem area’s Christmas spirit unrivalled: it’s in the melodies streaming onto streets adorned with lights, markets showcasing decorations, and the enthusiasm of children, families, and tourists shooting photos with towering Christmas trees.

Everything is calmer and more solemn now. The tree-lighting festivities she attended last year were cancelled.

Grieving and often overlooked, Palestinian Christians prepare for a somber Christmas amid war

Church leaders in Jerusalem have asked their congregations to avoid “extraneous festive activities.” They urged priests and the faithful to focus on the spiritual aspect of Christmas and urged “fervent prayers for a just and lasting peace in our beloved Holy Land.”

Thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which was begun in response to Hamas’ massacres and hostage-taking in Israel on October 7.

According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Israeli sniper fire killed two Christian women who were in a church compound in Gaza. The Israeli military stated that troops were targeting Hamas militants in the vicinity and that it was examining the incident, which it takes extremely seriously.

Khalilia is doing her best to console the distressed man.

“It’s difficult to watch. “It’s difficult to do your job,” he admitted. “People are looking for us to walk with them in their suffering.”

He is concerned about his family in the West Bank; a brother lost his job working for a hotel as travel cancellations hit tourism hard.

Khalili, from a hamlet near Bethlehem, said his girls would likely receive fewer gifts this year, with the money saved to support children in Gaza.

Many people in the United States, he claims, are unaware that Palestinian Christians exist — some even inquire if he converted from Islam or Judaism.

He says, “When you sing ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ on Christmas Eve, remember that Jesus was born in my hometown.”

According to the US State Department’s international religious freedom report for 2022, 50,000 Christian Palestinians are anticipated to live in the West Bank and Jerusalem. According to the report, approximately 1,300 Christians lived in Gaza. Some Christians are also Israeli citizens. A large number of Palestinian Christians live in diaspora communities.

Grieving and often overlooked, Palestinian Christians prepare for a somber Christmas amid war

According to Susan Muaddi Darraj, a novelist in Baltimore, Christians represent a diversity of Palestinians that is often overlooked. “Our existence … defies the stereotypes that are being used to dehumanize us.”

According to her, family reunions have become vital for comfort this Christmas.

“Especially in the diaspora … where, for us, life feels like it’s stopped but everyone else around us is going about their daily business.”

According to Wadie Abunassar, a Palestinian Israeli living in Haifa, many in his Christian community are attempting to balance the gloomy environment with the Christmas message.

“Jesus came in the midst of darkness,” said Abunassar, a former Catholic Church spokesperson. “Christmas is about giving hope when there is no hope.” “Nowadays, more than ever, we need this Christmas spirit.”

It has been a challenging road.

“Being Israeli citizens, we feel the pain of our Jewish compatriots,” he went on to say. “Being Palestinians, we feel the pain of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, said tears flowed during Sunday services. Many people are worried, and some have packed their belongings and departed.

Isaac was among those who came to Washington to lobby for a cease-fire.

“A comprehensive and just peace is the only hope for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” wrote many Christian pastoral leaders in Bethlehem in a letter. It was addressed to President Joe Biden and requested him to help end the war.

The signatories expressed their sorrow for all fatalities, Palestinian and Israeli.

“We seek a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire.” Enough with the death. Enough devastation… This is our Christmas plea and prayer.”

Israel, whose forces have been accused of employing disproportionate force by some, says it wants to destroy Hamas and accuses it of endangering civilians. The scale of the killings, devastation, and displacement in Gaza is also causing international concern for Israel and its US partner.

Isaac’s church has a nativity scene with a baby Jesus figurine draped in a back-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh in the ruins. He described the exhibition as an emotional and spiritual event.

“We see Jesus in every child that’s killed, and we see God’s identifying with us in our suffering.”

Suhair Anastas, a long-time Gaza resident, is filled with remorse this holiday season: She has escaped the Gaza war while others have not.

Anastas, a Jordanian Palestinian, had been residing in Gaza, her late husband’s hometown.

She and her 16-year-old daughter sought refuge in a Catholic church’s school for more than a month. A fatal Israeli airstrike on a Gaza Greek Orthodox Church property housing displaced people felt especially near. The Israeli military claimed it had struck a Hamas command headquarters in the area.

“You go to sleep … thinking, ‘Will I wake up the next morning?'” Anastas explained.

Her journey to the border, which included driving, walking, riding in a donkey cart, and hailing a cab, was harrowing.

“There were bombings around,” she explained. A friend’s toddler kept asking, “Are we going to die?”

Anastas wants to return to Gaza, but she is unsure what awaits her or whether her home will remain there.

Among the many unknowns about the future of Gaza and its more than 2 million residents is whether or not its small Christian population will remain — and for how long.

Sami Awad’s relatives are among those who remain inside. Awad, a Palestinian American, claimed he was unable to obtain US assistance for his family members who do not have US passports to leave.

They’ve moved several times, with their most recent shelter being a windowless cement structure shared with others, according to Awad, who is currently on the West Bank. In infrequent exchanges, a relative informed him that they were running out of the canned tuna and beans on which they had survived.

“If we die, don’t grieve too much for us, because it would have been mercy for us,” he once told Awad. “Save us,” the cousin yelled at times. “Get us out of here.”

“I feel completely helpless,” Awad remarked, anticipating bad news at any moment.

Awad claimed hope arrived in Australian visas for his relatives, including an elderly aunt and uncle, but their names aren’t on the lists required to leave.

On the morning of Christmas Day, he remarked, “We’ll wake up, like every other day, to watch the news and to see what are the numbers of people that were killed.”

Awad had only considered putting up a Christmas tree once his youngest daughter insisted.

So suddenly, there’s a tree. A red, black, white, and green Palestinian flag is displayed among gold and red decorations.

SOURCE – (AP)

U.K News

London Hit With Heavy Snow as Temperatures Plummet

Published

5 days ago

2024-11-19

Geoff Brown

London, England, has been gripped by an Arctic freeze, with temperatures dipping well below zero, snow forcing trains to stop, and over 200 schools closing in and across the UK.

Commuters faced traffic mayhem as Braemar in Aberdeenshire recorded the coldest temperature in the UK this early in the season since 1998, at -11.2C (12.2F).

Today, the Met Office issued three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across the Midlands and North of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The UK Health Security Agency issued the season’s first amber cold weather health advisory, warning that circumstances could be hazardous to vulnerable people.

Poor weather hampered rail travel, with no trains running between Nottingham and Worksop or between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales.

A couple walks on the snow-covered ground at Pavillion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire.

Northern services in Yorkshire between Bradford and Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge to Halifax, and Halifax to Hull were all disrupted while flooding at Ulverston in Cumbria caused delays between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster.

Around 130 Welsh schools closed in Wrexham, Powys, Denbighshire, and Flintshire, with closures also reported in Birmingham, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

Nearly 5 inches (12 cm) of snow fell at Watnall in Nottinghamshire, with 3 inches (8 cm) at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and 2 inches (5 cm) at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales.

The Met Office issued warnings that vehicles might become trapped, power outages could occur, remote communities could be shut off, and falling on ice could cause injury.

England has a yellow warning until 11 a.m., while Scotland has a warning until 10 a.m. tomorrow. Another warning for Northern Ireland expired at 10 a.m.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold weather health notice for the East and North of England, the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the Humber.

Yellow health alerts went into effect for the South East, South West, and London at 8 a.m. today and will run until 6 p.m. on Saturday.

National Rail warned that the cold weather would impair several routes on northern rail services until at least 2 p.m. today.

Merseyrail issued a notice informing passengers that due to the possibility of snow and ice covering tracks, the first train on each line in North West England would run without passengers to allow conditions to be examined.

National Highways also issued a strong amber weather advisory for snow, indicating that the M1 in Leeds and Sheffield, the M56 in Manchester, junction 39 of the M6, and junctions 21-23 of the M62 may see interruption.

WEATHER WARNING 1: The Met Office snow warning in Northern Ireland terminated at 10 a.m. today.

WEATHER WARNING 2: A separate snow and ice warning for Northern England until 11 a.m. today.

WEATHER WARNING 3: Scotland’s snow and ice warning is live until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The Met Office, which characterized the weather as ‘the first taste of winter,’ said heavy snow will cause problems in England, with Derbyshire being the most vulnerable.

According to Dan Suri, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, a low-pressure system will move eastward on Monday night.

The related frontal system, which marks the border between cold air in the north and milder weather in the south, may deliver disruptive snow to certain locations between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Dr. Agostinho Sousa of the UK Health Security Agency stated, “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as winter approaches. It is critical to check in on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.”

Brittany Snow Hints She Was “Blindsided” By Tyler Stanaland Divorce

2023: Brittany Snow Hints She Was “Blindsided” By Tyler Stanaland Divorce

U.K News

Windsor Castle Robbed While Royal Family Slept

Published

6 days ago

2024-11-19

Geoff Brown

UK police report two men broke into the Windsor Castle estate, home to Prince William and Catherine and their three children and stole two vehicles.

According to the Sun newspaper, the robbers broke into a farm building on the Windsor estate and stole a black Isuzu pick-up truck and a red quad bike stashed in a barn.

The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly arrived at their estate home during the nighttime burglary.

Thames Valley Police stated the individuals ran to the Old Windsor/Datchet area, but no arrests have been made.

“Offenders entered a farm building and stole vehicles,” the police added. An investigation is underway regarding the incident.

There have been previous security incidents at Windsor. On Christmas Day in 2021, an intruder was apprehended on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Jaswant Singh Chail, who was equipped with a crossbow, received a nine-year prison sentence.

The Windsor estate, located west of London, spans 15,800 acres and contains functioning farms, conservation areas, Windsor Great Park, and well-known royal attractions, including Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle received 1.4 million visitors last year, making it the UK’s most popular royal tourist site.

Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales, Gives Update on New Project

Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales Gives Update on New Project

U.K News

Britain’s Conservative Party Elects Kemi Badenoch as Leader

Published

3 weeks ago

2024-11-02

Ana Wong

Conservatives pick Kemi Badenoch as party leader

U.K. Conservatives pick Kemi Badenoch as their party's new leader

Britain’s Conservative Party elected outspoken MP Kemi Badenoch as its new leader on Saturday, making her the first woman of color to lead a major British political party.

She has promised to give the right-of-center Tories “renewal” by advocating for a smaller state and rejecting identity politics.

The new leader faces a daunting challenge in restoring the party’s reputation after years of division, scandal, and economic turbulence, hammering Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s policies on key issues such as the economy and immigration and returning the Conservatives to power in the 2029 election.

“The task that stands before us is tough but simple,” Kemi Badenoch said in a victory address to a room full of Conservative legislators, staff, and journalists in London. She stated that the party’s role was to hold the Labour administration accountable while developing commitments and a government strategy.

Addressing the party’s electoral defeat, she stated, “We have to be honest — honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.”

“The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party, and our country, the new start that they deserve,” according to Badenoch.

Kemi Badenoch was Born in London

Kemi Badenoch, a business secretary in Sunak’s cabinet, was born in London to Nigerian parents and grew up in West Africa.

The former software engineer positions herself as a disruptor, advocating for a low-tax, free-market economy and promising to “rewire, reboot, and reprogram” the British state. Like her adversary Jenrick, she has opposed multiculturalism and advocated for decreased immigration, but unlike him, she has not asked that Britain abandon the European Convention on Human Rights.

Kemi Badenoch, a self-proclaimed hater of wokeness, opposes identity politics, gender-neutral toilets, and government initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in the United Kingdom. During the leadership race, she was chastised for claiming that “not all cultures are equally valid” and implying that maternity pay was excessive.

Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, predicted that under Badenoch, the Conservative Party would “swing to the right both in terms of its economic and social policies.”

He foretold that Badenoch will follow “what you might call the boats, boilers and bathrooms strategy …. focusing very much on the trans issue, the immigration issue and skepticism about progress towards net zero.”

Conservative Party Becoming More Diverse

While the Conservative Party is unrepresentative of the country as a whole, with a decreasing membership of 132,000 mostly affluent, elderly white men, its higher echelons have become significantly more diverse.

Badenoch is the Tories’ fourth female leader, following Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Liz Truss, who became prime ministers.

She is the second Conservative leader of color, following Sunak, and the first with African heritage. The center-left Labour Party has a more diversified membership, but its leaders have always been white men.

In a more than three-month leadership contest, Conservative MPs narrowed the field from six to two in a series of votes before presenting the last two to a vote of the party’s membership.

Both finalists were from the party’s right-wing and claimed they could reclaim votes from Reform U.K., the hard-right, anti-immigrant group led by populist leader Nigel Farage that has eroded Conservative support.

However, the party lost many votes to the winning party, Labour, and the centrist Liberal Democrats, and some Conservatives are concerned that tacking right may move the party away from popular sentiment.

Kier Starmer’s Labor government has had a difficult first few months in power, plagued by unfavorable headlines, fiscal woes, and a sinking approval rating.

However, Bale stated that the historical record implies Badenoch’s chances of leading the Conservatives back to power in 2029 are slim.

“It’s quite unusual for someone to take over when a party gets very badly beaten and manage to lead it to election victory,” according to him. “However, Keir Starmer did just that after 2019. So there are records to break.”

Source: AP