Christian village of Taybeh closed to Israelis to deter settler attacks
Israel’s military authorities have declared Taybeh, the last entirely Christian community in the occupied West Bank, as a closed military zone, barring Israelis, foreign nationals and journalists. In a statement, they said the aim was to prevent growing attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers across the West Bank. The order applies to Israelis and not to Palestinians. A spokesperson said turning Taybeh into a closed military zone was “due to some violent attacks by Israelis in the region.” IDF soldiers have been told to disperse gatherings in violation of the order and detain suspects in order to protect citizens. Father Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of Christ the Redeemer Church in the town, is quoted saying that the church welcomes any measure to protect people, their homes, land and freedom: “The declaration of Taybeh as a closed military zone for non-resident Israelis may be a positive step if it is genuinely and consistently enforced to prevent settlers from entering our lands and carrying out further attacks. What matters to us, however, is not the announcement itself, but what happens on the ground in the coming days and weeks”. Reuters report here. Independent Catholic News report here.
Foreign Secretary raises settler expansion with Israeli counterpart
The Foreign Secretary, Ed Milliband, issued a statement yesterday afternoon saying he had held a “frank and constructive” first telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar. In a statement issued on X, he said he raised pressing concerns about the “sharp escalation of settler violence and settlement expansion” and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying Israel “must crack down on the violence in the West Bank and must immediately and end blockages on aid into Gaza.” In recent days, the Foreign Secretary has met several British Jewish leaders.
Catholic agencies mobilise for the people of Colombia
The aid organisation “Aid to the Church in Need” has launched an appeal for the people of Colombia, where an earthquake devastated communities leaving 130 dead and more than 500 injured. Aid has already been offered for trauma counselling, support for Sisters offering practical support, and development of plans to rebuild damaged churches, parishes centres and other structures. Initial ACN reports from dioceses in Chocó Province, close to the epicentre of the earthquake, described “widespread damage” to parishes. Several neighbouring regions have also been “severely affected”, according to ACN sources. CAFOD has made a £50,000 donation to support the initial humanitarian response, providing emergency shelter for displaced people, clean water and food. Around 60 per cent of the country identify as Catholic.
Islamic Relief reports rise in abusive messages
Hyphen Online has a story that staff at Islamic Relief have reported receiving hundreds of abusive messages directed at the charity each month. Its Muslim identity has increasingly made it a target for abuse and misinformation. Ramadan 2025, which followed the Southport riots, was the worst period it has experienced for Islamophobic abuse, and abuse intensifies when it runs campaigns, which detracts from its work. Its Tube posters and billboards have been vandalised because they prominently display the word “Islamic”. The story is here.
Bishop urges government to secure the release of Jimmy Lai
Bishop James Curry, lead Catholic bishop for freedom of religion and belief, has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to continue to do everything possible to secure the release of Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai is a Hong Kong-born businessman, publisher and pro-democracy activist who founded the newspaper Apple Daily. He supported the pro-democracy movement and was arrested in 2020 under Hong Kong’s national security law and has been imprisoned since then. He was convicted in Hong Kong in 2025 of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious material and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026. As a resident of Hong Kong, he became a British citizen when it was still a British territory. He is also a Catholic, and his case has been taken up by the church, human rights groups and the UK government. More here
URC urges Burnham to honour promises to Windrush generation
The United Reformed Church is calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to honour promises to the Windrush generation and overhaul the compensation scheme. Its racial justice advocates are backing a campaign for free legal support, an independent Windrush Redress Authority and a full public inquiry. They have backed an open letter in support of a radical overhaul of the scheme, which has been signed by 70 public figures. A National Audit Office report found that only 3,148 of 9,224 concluded claims had resulted in compensation, with more than half receiving no award. More here
US pupils persuade school board to distinguish swastika from Nazi symbol
A group of Hindu school pupils in the US has convinced a school board to teach the difference between the ancient Indian symbol resembling a Swastika and the Nazi symbol, which is slightly different in appearance. Hitler replaced the swastika with the “Hakenkreuz”, hooked cross, by changing the tilt and removing four dots. A RNS report says that the swastika does not have any negative connotations and is revered in Hindu traditions where it means good fortune, whereas the Hakenkreuz stands for evil. Article is here.
Charity launched to deepen church’s connection with nature and gardening
St Anne’s Church in south-west London, near to the world famous Kew Gardens, has launched a charity Kew Theology & Gardening, to “deepen the church’s connection with nature, to help us develop our theology of the environment, and to enhance the well-being of Christian and other communities by providing opportunities to spend time amidst the great diversity of the natural world”.
St Anne’s vicar, the Rev Giles Fraser, says: “Gardening is a profoundly theological activity. You are caring for creation with your hands in the soil. You are planting something which is always a great act of hope. And it sets you in a context that’s so much bigger, so much more beautiful than our small and often cramped little world.” The charity will offer a number of retreats in conjunction with Southwark Cathedral and Kew Gardens, alongside lectures and walks. Read Catherine Pepinster’s article here.
