Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and
around the globe: the Pope considers a stop in Cuba, Israel's new Arab political party considers next steps, and Ethiopian Jews are left behind.
AROUND THE WORLD
What a Victim of the Charlie Hebdo Shootings Had to Say About 'Islamophobia'
by Daniela Deane
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the-murdered-former-editor-of-charlie-hebdo-calls-islamophobia-racism/2015/04/17/cdb3071c-e4d1-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_story.html
The slain former editor of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo calls “Islamophobia” simply modern-day racism in a book he finished only two days before he was gunned down in the worst terrorist attack in France in decades.
Italy Accuses Muslim Migrants of Killing Christians at Sea
by Jim Yardley and Gaia Pianigiani
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/world/europe/italy-accuses-muslim-migrants-of-killing-christians-at-sea.html?ref=todayspaper
The Italian police on Thursday charged 15 Muslim men with homicide aggravated by religious hatred after survivors of a migrant boat rescued in the Mediterranean told investigators that the men had menaced Christians on board and thrown a dozen Christians overboard to their deaths.
Pope 'Considering' Cuba Visit, Vatican Says
by Scott Neuman
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/04/17/400354214/pope-considering-cuba-visit-vatican-says
Pope Francis, who plans to visit the United States in September, might tack onto his itinerary a side trip to Cuba, the Vatican says, but it cautions the talks with Havana are at an early stage.
Settling Settlements
by Elliott Abrams and Uri Sadot
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143699/elliott-abrams-and-uri-sadot/settling-settlements
The United States and Europe frequently criticized Netanyahu's settlement policy as expanding Israeli presence in the West Bank. Meanwhile, right-wing constituencies in Israel lashed out at Netanyahu for doing the exact opposite. In fact, he was doing both—a balancing act that is about to get a lot harder.
What’s Next for Israel’s New Arab Political Party?
by Adam Taylor
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/whats-next-for-israels-new-arab-political-party/2015/04/16/f672d14a-dd75-11e4-b6d7-b9bc8acf16f7_story.html
Iqrit serves as a reminder both of Israeli Arabs’ fresh clout and also the considerable expectations they have now placed on Ayman Odeh and his party. Despite its sizable Knesset presence, Odeh’s Joint List party—a newly formed alliance of Israeli Arab parties—will not form a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition government.
Palestinian Women Join Effort to Keep Jews from Contested Holy Site
by Diaa Hadid
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/world/middleeast/palestinian-women-join-effort-to-keep-jews-from-contested-holy-site.html?ref=todayspaper
The chaotic scene, which has become routine at the sacred site, was led by a group of women known in their community as Muslim garrison soldiers, or mourabitat. They say it is their role to protect the integrity of the Noble Sanctuary from religious Jews who want to pray at a contested site that is held sacred by both.
They Speak Hebrew and Keep Kosher: The Left-Behind Ethiopian Jews
by Gregory Warner
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/04/16/398834693/they-speak-hebrew-and-keep-kosher-the-left-behind-ethiopian-jews
For Jews around the world, having one Christian ancestor would not disqualify them from becoming an Israeli citizen. But Gezi and his family are a special case, because they're descended from a group of Ethiopians whose Jewish ancestors converted to Christianity under pressure in the nineteenth century.
Kashmir's Crossroads
by Vasundhara Sirnate
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/letters-from/kashmirs-crossroads
Although they both want the same things—protection from counterterrorism gone awry and development—Jammu’s Hindu population and Muslim Kashmiris have different answers about how to get them. Modi's election laid these divisions bare.
Rapprochement with the Dalai Lama? No Way, Says China
by Simon Denyer
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rapprochement-with-the-dalai-lama-no-way-says-china/2015/04/16/b04e704d-6e54-4ca5-b318-1559e6aff1fa_story.html
China has quashed talk of a rapprochement with the Dalai Lama, insisting that greater autonomy for Tibet is “not up for discussion,” accusing him of consistently inciting violence within the region and demanding that he seek forgiveness for attempting to split China.
DOMESTIC
Politicking from the Pulpit on the Iran Deal
by Nicholas G. Hahn III
Wall Street Journal op-ed
http://www.wsj.com/articles/politicking-from-the-pulpit-on-the-iran-deal-1429225269
Some religious leaders have been quick to bless the “framework agreement” with Iran that emerged from deliberations earlier this month in Switzerland over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. That was a mistake.
What a Victim of the Charlie Hebdo Shootings Had to Say About 'Islamophobia'
by Daniela Deane
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the-murdered-former-editor-of-charlie-hebdo-calls-islamophobia-racism/2015/04/17/cdb3071c-e4d1-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_story.html
The slain former editor of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo calls “Islamophobia” simply modern-day racism in a book he finished only two days before he was gunned down in the worst terrorist attack in France in decades.
Italy Accuses Muslim Migrants of Killing Christians at Sea
by Jim Yardley and Gaia Pianigiani
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/world/europe/italy-accuses-muslim-migrants-of-killing-christians-at-sea.html?ref=todayspaper
The Italian police on Thursday charged 15 Muslim men with homicide aggravated by religious hatred after survivors of a migrant boat rescued in the Mediterranean told investigators that the men had menaced Christians on board and thrown a dozen Christians overboard to their deaths.
Pope 'Considering' Cuba Visit, Vatican Says
by Scott Neuman
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/04/17/400354214/pope-considering-cuba-visit-vatican-says
Pope Francis, who plans to visit the United States in September, might tack onto his itinerary a side trip to Cuba, the Vatican says, but it cautions the talks with Havana are at an early stage.
Settling Settlements
by Elliott Abrams and Uri Sadot
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143699/elliott-abrams-and-uri-sadot/settling-settlements
The United States and Europe frequently criticized Netanyahu's settlement policy as expanding Israeli presence in the West Bank. Meanwhile, right-wing constituencies in Israel lashed out at Netanyahu for doing the exact opposite. In fact, he was doing both—a balancing act that is about to get a lot harder.
What’s Next for Israel’s New Arab Political Party?
by Adam Taylor
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/whats-next-for-israels-new-arab-political-party/2015/04/16/f672d14a-dd75-11e4-b6d7-b9bc8acf16f7_story.html
Iqrit serves as a reminder both of Israeli Arabs’ fresh clout and also the considerable expectations they have now placed on Ayman Odeh and his party. Despite its sizable Knesset presence, Odeh’s Joint List party—a newly formed alliance of Israeli Arab parties—will not form a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition government.
Palestinian Women Join Effort to Keep Jews from Contested Holy Site
by Diaa Hadid
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/world/middleeast/palestinian-women-join-effort-to-keep-jews-from-contested-holy-site.html?ref=todayspaper
The chaotic scene, which has become routine at the sacred site, was led by a group of women known in their community as Muslim garrison soldiers, or mourabitat. They say it is their role to protect the integrity of the Noble Sanctuary from religious Jews who want to pray at a contested site that is held sacred by both.
They Speak Hebrew and Keep Kosher: The Left-Behind Ethiopian Jews
by Gregory Warner
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/04/16/398834693/they-speak-hebrew-and-keep-kosher-the-left-behind-ethiopian-jews
For Jews around the world, having one Christian ancestor would not disqualify them from becoming an Israeli citizen. But Gezi and his family are a special case, because they're descended from a group of Ethiopians whose Jewish ancestors converted to Christianity under pressure in the nineteenth century.
Kashmir's Crossroads
by Vasundhara Sirnate
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/letters-from/kashmirs-crossroads
Although they both want the same things—protection from counterterrorism gone awry and development—Jammu’s Hindu population and Muslim Kashmiris have different answers about how to get them. Modi's election laid these divisions bare.
Rapprochement with the Dalai Lama? No Way, Says China
by Simon Denyer
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rapprochement-with-the-dalai-lama-no-way-says-china/2015/04/16/b04e704d-6e54-4ca5-b318-1559e6aff1fa_story.html
China has quashed talk of a rapprochement with the Dalai Lama, insisting that greater autonomy for Tibet is “not up for discussion,” accusing him of consistently inciting violence within the region and demanding that he seek forgiveness for attempting to split China.
DOMESTIC
Politicking from the Pulpit on the Iran Deal
by Nicholas G. Hahn III
Wall Street Journal op-ed
http://www.wsj.com/articles/politicking-from-the-pulpit-on-the-iran-deal-1429225269
Some religious leaders have been quick to bless the “framework agreement” with Iran that emerged from deliberations earlier this month in Switzerland over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. That was a mistake.
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