Cardinal Pizzaballa briefs MPs about the situation in Israel-Palestine during his UK visit. Photo: Catholic Church of England and Wales
Cardinal Pizzaballa briefs MPs about the situation in Israel-Palestine during his UK visit. Photo: Catholic Church of England and Wales
Cardinal Pizzaballa briefs MPs about the situation in Israel-Palestine during his UK visit. Photo: Catholic Church of England and Wales
Cardinal Pizzaballa briefs MPs about the situation in Israel-Palestine during his UK visit. Photo: Catholic Church of England and Wales

'We do not understand each other': Faith leaders fall out over Israel-Gaza war


Lemma Shehadi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Religious leaders in Jerusalem have been unable to maintain open dialogue as a result of the Israel-Gaza war, Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch has said.

Leaders of Christian, Jewish and Muslim denominations in the capital could “barely understand each other”, in the fallout from the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, and with Israel’s continuing military campaign in Gaza, said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who leads the loyal-to-Rome Catholic church in the city.

“I used to meet the hierarchy of Muslim authorities, Jewish authorities, and so on. Now it’s difficult,” he said, speaking at a press briefing during his visit to London.

“After years of dialogue, we are at a point where we do not understand each other.”

We cannot replace Unrwa
Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Jewish communities have accused Christian faith leaders of not showing “enough empathy” with Israel about the attacks on October 7, while Muslim leaders were condemned for having “said nothing” and not attempting to “understand” the Israeli position.

Cardinal Pizzaballa admonished his counterparts for doing little to call for an end to the war, and asked critics of the church’s position to “at least respect our sorrow for the civilian victims”. Faith leaders were also wary of meeting publicly.

Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel when militants broke through the southern border on October 7, sparking an Israeli military campaign that has killed more than 44,300 people in Gaza, and a severe humanitarian situation that led tens of thousands more to die of malnutrition and disease.

The divided city of Jerusalem has been rocked by tensions and continuing violence spilling over from the war. Palestinian homes have been demolished in the occupied East by the Israeli authorities, and far-right Israeli mobs have acted with increasing impunity.

Cardinal Pizzaballa briefed MPs about the situation in Israel-Palestine during his UK visit.

He believed that interfaith dialogue was more likely to come from the grass roots level. Despite the hatred, there were a lot of “engaged” movements and organisations seeking to build bridges. He met many local religious leaders for the first time, to talk about peace building initiatives. “The situation created new desires to change, to do something,” he said.

Changed realities

A new reality has set in, and any future peace process needs a new approach that acknowledges the failures of earlier initiatives, Cardinal Pizzaballa added.

“We need new ideas, to create new ideas, a new path and new channels. We need to take into consideration that what has been done until now, didn’t work, it’s a fact. Otherwise we wouldn’t be in such a terrible situation,” he said.

“We cannot presume that we can go back to rebuild and to redo the same things before after this deep tragedy. It's necessary to turn the page and to write something new,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to talk about perspective in this situation, as long as the conflict is going on, but we have to be ready after, when the military conflict is over,” he said.

Scouts hold a sign in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza with Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Bethlehem. REUTERS/Mussa Issa Qawasma
Scouts hold a sign in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza with Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Bethlehem. REUTERS/Mussa Issa Qawasma

Palestinians and Israelis were living alongside each other but with completely different understandings of the war. Palestinians viewed the conflict as an extension of the Nabka, their displacement in 1948. For Israelis, the reality that emerged after October 7 was “something new”.

“What is common, is the hatred, the mistrust,” he said, of both sides.

The Patriarchate was one of two bodies with humanitarian access channels to northern Gaza. The church was delivering about 100,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables every two weeks, which reached about 4,000 families, he said.

Jordan's King Abdullah II decorates Pierbattista Pizzaballa with an honour commemorating Jordan's 76th Independence Day. (Khalil MAZRAAWI/ AFP)
Jordan's King Abdullah II decorates Pierbattista Pizzaballa with an honour commemorating Jordan's 76th Independence Day. (Khalil MAZRAAWI/ AFP)

He recalled the complex negotiations with the Israeli authorities to obtain access to the strip. “It was complicated. We have to be stubborn sometimes and also tough, but also finding proper ways,” he said.

The aid, he added was a “drop in the ocean” compared to that supplied to Gaza by the UN’s aid agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, which will soon be prohibited in Israel. “We cannot replace UNRWA,” he said, adding that Patriarchate would only be able scale its aid up to reach 40,000 people.

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
While you're here
The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

Results

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).

7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m

Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.

10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

RESULTS

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.

Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.

Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.

Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.

The Orwell Prize for Political Writing

Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include: 

  • Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
  • Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
  • Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
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  • Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
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  3. All aspects of post-production.
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  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Company%20profile
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We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.

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Key findings
  • Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
  • Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase. 
  • People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”. 
  • Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better. 
  • But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Nick's journey in numbers

Countries so far: 85

Flights: 149

Steps: 3.78 million

Calories: 220,000

Floors climbed: 2,000

Donations: GPB37,300

Prostate checks: 5

Blisters: 15

Bumps on the head: 2

Dog bites: 1

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

'Champions'

Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Company%20Profile
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Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

Updated: November 30, 2024, 5:53 AM`