Israel says ‘no’ to Middle East peace conference in Paris

Israel on Monday formally rejected France’s invitation to take part in a Middle East peace conference in Paris later this year, saying it was a distraction from the goal of direct negotiations with the Palestinians. At a meeting in Jerusalem with Israel’s acting national security adviser and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic adviser, French envoy […]

Netanyahu ‘ethnic cleansing’ comment against Palestinians draws U.S. rebuke

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said the Palestinians wanted to form a state devoid of a Jewish population and termed it “ethnic cleansing”, drawing sharp criticism from the United States. In a video message, Netanyahu said in reference to the removal of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, “The Palestinian leadership actually demands […]

Israeli minister unapologetic for security ‘profiling’ hailed by Trump

Profiling of Muslims Back in the Political Frame After Trump Visit to Israel A senior Israeli official justified the “profiling” of Muslims as potential security threats on Monday after U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said Americans should adopt Israel’s disputed practice. Arabs, who make up a fifth of Israel’s population, and Palestinians living under Israeli […]

Death of Former Auschwitz Guard Robs Victims of Justice

The death of a former Auschwitz guard days before his trial in Germany has dashed the hopes of two elderly Jewish survivors of Nazi rule who wanted to see justice for their parents, who perished while the guard was on duty at the death camp. Israel Loewenstein, himself a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor, and Henry Foner, […]

How is Christmas celebrated in other parts of the world?

Netherlands The festivities begin with the arrival of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on a boat from Spain. History alludes to a Catholic priest in fourth-century Myra – in modern Turkey. Under protestant rule, celebrations of Sinterklaas moved from the public into the private sphere. Jan Schenkman’s 1850 novel ‘Saint Nicholas and his Servant‘ popularised many modern Sinterklaas traditions. Schenkman’s writings reflected the culture – Sinterklaas interrogated children about their behaviour and religious knowledge. Rewards came in the shape of gifts and food. Naughty children were sometimes carried away by the servant in a large sack. One of the most controversial legacies involves Zwarte Piet or ‘Black Pete’ – a character who accompanies Sinterklass. White people put on blackface makeup, with exaggerated lips, curly wigs and costumes. The United Nations has called on the Netherlands to ditch Black Pete due to its racist and negative stereotyping. In recent years, the anti-racist response to Black Pete has received more mainstream attention. Jerusalem Christians account for less than 2 per cent of the population in Jerusalem. For many in the city, Christmas is just another day in the city. Christmas Day falls on the Sabbath so individuals will be off regardless. In some parts [...]

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Barenboim Barred from Tehran Concert Bringing Israel & Iran In Agreement

It seems that the Israeli and Iranian Government have reached a consensus on what was to be a conference bringing mutual understanding through music. Daniel Barenboim’s work of trying to overcome cultural differences between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews has meant that he has steadfastly used his music to bring together musicians from both communities […]

How Many Children Have To Die for Palestinians to Have Their Homeland?

We see the cycle of hatred, an Israeli Jewish couple murdered, Jewish settlers retaliate by running over innocent Palestinians and burning olive groups, apart from the harassment and humiliation they mete out to Palestinian farmers. A Jewish man is stabbed in the Old City by young Palestinians, whilst Palestinian children are shot and killed in cold blood […]

Statement from Faith Matters

Faith Matters is an organisation that works on numerous social projects including interfaith, conflict resolution, preventing extremism and monitoring hate crimes work. We believe in dialogue, in speaking to those with different opinions and in bringing communities together. This is a fundamental part of who we are and what we are about. There is no […]

A Statement on the Ongoing Conflict in Gaza and Israel

We understand, given that we work with diverse Muslim communities in the UK, that there is anger about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the large number of deaths in Gaza. The reaction within Israel on the back of the murders of three teenagers has certainly hardened public opinion in the country and […]

The Forums Project – Bridging Beliefs Forums Project

The Bridging Beliefs Forums were a unique series of workshops across England with Holocaust survivors and survivors of the genocide of Bosnian Muslims in 2005. The Bridging Beliefs Forums were a unique series of talks that took place in Manchester, Leeds, London, Birmingham and Leicester.  In a unique demonstration of togetherness, survivors of the Holocaust […]